The Olympic System: Toward a Geopolitical Approach

XII •

 Pascal Gillon

A

nnales

 

de

 G

éoGraphie

, 

n

° 680 • 2011

Other actors have tried to use the Games for the purpose of communica-

tions—first of all, minorities, whether African Americans at the Mexico Games 

with Smith and Carlos, or Tibetans at the Beijing Games, and then, terrorist 

movements through the attack in Munich. And finally, more recently, some 

NGOs have used the Games to exert pressure, in particular Greenpeace for eco-

logical issues and Reporters without Borders during the Beijing Games.

The Games have become so important for communication purposes that they 

are attracting numerous actors using them as a sounding board to deliver their 

own messages, often far removed from sport issues.