Olympic Games Research Articles

OS IMPACTOS DA TERAPIA ASSISTIDA POR ANIMAIS (TAA) NA IMUNIDADE DOS CÃES: BENEFÍCIOS E DESAFIOS

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) is a specific type of intervention or treatment, working with the contribution of Veterinary Medicine, with the aim of promoting the social, cognitive, physical or emotional development of human beings who interact with animals. However, there is still no Federal Law in Brazil that regulates Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), with certification to ensure the health and well-being of the animals involved. This article intends to have a scoping review of the literature, with the aim of contributing to new theoretical knowledge on the topic. Therefore, this research will demonstrate a brief report on therapeutic practice and the objective of this study is to identify the direct impacts that Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT) causes on the immunity of the dogs involved, highlighting benefits and challenges that this activity can bring into active practice. In view of the above, the practical performance of the Golden retriever therapy dog ​​called “Beacon Miller” and affectionately nicknamed “Goodest Boy” was reflected worldwide at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with a notable role of emotional and psychological support, which benefited not just the athletes, but also the coaches and family members, demonstrating the post-therapy challenges for the therapy dog. Thus, this present study aims to update future Veterinarians on the importance of the therapeutic practice carried out through dogs called Animal Assisted Therapy (AAT), demonstrating the essential role that the Veterinarian has in supervising and monitoring the animal. It is essential that this activity also benefits therapy dogs, preserving the health and well-being of the animal that contributed to a social and humanitarian activity. Therefore, the Veterinarian's frequent observation of dogs in therapeutic activity, before, during and after activities, is extremely important to detect impacts or extreme situations early, thus ensuring that the animal acts comfortably in this therapeutic practice.

Aggressive driving behavior: road rage incidents in Athens from the clinical forensic point of view

Abstract Background Aggressive driving behavior may lead to interpersonal violence. The Athens Metropolitan area has over four million inhabitants. Public transportation has improved over the last decades, mainly due to the work performed before the 2004 Olympic Games but is still lacking in the coverage of the Attica region with fixed track transportation. Thus, traffic in Athens is usually heavy during the day, a fact that combined with limited parking spaces available, acts as fuel to aggressive driving behaviors. For this retrospective study, data from forensic clinical examinations performed at our department by the authors were reviewed. More specifically, cases examined from January 1st, 2012, to September 30rd, 2021, all concerning allegations for road rage were included, totally 177 cases. The data obtained was analyzed by utilizing SPSS Statistics. Results Most victims and perpetrators were drivers of their vehicles. In most cases (85.3%), perpetrators acted alone. 80.2% of victims reported that the incident was triggered by a minor conflict. Perpetrators used mostly just their hands and feet, or even their head as a blunt force instrument to inflict injuries (72.3%). Hammers, crowbars, and brass knuckles were used in 12.4% of cases, while in 9.6% the vehicle was used to overrun the victim. In 2.8% of cases, perpetrators attempted to strangulate the victims, while in 1.7% they used a sharp force instrument. In 9.6% of cases, victims did not sustain any visible external injury. 18.1% of victims sustained just a single injury, while in 72.3% multiple injuries were observed. 69.5% victims sustained merely external injuries, while in 20.2% at least one internal organ injury was sustained. The predominant injury site was by far the head-neck region. In more than one third of the road rage incidents, the injuries could be characterized as grievous. Conclusions Most people involved were male motorists. Females are rarely victims of road traffic violence, and even more rarely act as perpetrators. Commonest injury site was the head-neck region, with second commonest the upper extremities.

Multimodal Discourse Interpretation of the Paris Olympics Mascot

Background: This study aims to analyze the design intention of the mascot of the Paris Olympics from a multimodal perspective. As the host of the 2024 Olympic Games, Paris' mascot carries rich meanings. With globalization and technological advancement, information spreads multimodally, and multimodal discourse analysis is important to understand how the mascot interacts with different audiences, conveys meanings as well as bridges cultural differences, and spreads the Olympic spirit and cultural heritage of the host country. Methods: Taking Kress and Van Leeuwen's visual grammar as the theoretical basis, based on multimodal discourse analysis under the perspective of social semiotics, and combining with the analysis indexes in the multimodal image analysis software, the mascots of the Paris Olympic Games are visualized and interpreted to explore their image characteristics, design concepts and social significance. Results: the mascot is analyzed from three aspects: reproduction meaning, composition meaning and interaction meaning. In terms of reproduction, the mascot is related to the Olympic Games and French culture; in terms of composition, the emblem and other elements are the core information carrier, and the color and other elements play an important role; in terms of interaction, the mascot has a variety of interactions with the viewers and so on. Conclusion: Olympic mascots are important components of Olympic culture. The multimodal discourse analysis comprehensively and accurately interpreted the connotation of the mascot of the Paris Olympic Games, reflecting the information of the organizing country and integrating it with the Olympic movement, reflecting the spirit of sports. The study has deficiencies, and the mascots can be further explored in the real context.

Development of a 3X3 Basketball Training Program Based on the Game Analysis

Background and Aim: The classic game of five-a-side basketball, which was first introduced as an official competition at the 32nd Olympic Games, gave rise to the new sport of 3x3 basketball. At the 32nd Olympic Games, China's women's 3x3 basketball team made history by winning the bronze medal and demonstrating exceptional competitiveness. The world's top teams still differ from one another, though. In addition, 3x3 basketball will become more well-known and appreciated in China. As much as we should celebrate the outcome, we also need to get ready for the Chinese team's next matchup against the best teams in the world. This article's primary research objective is to develop a three-woman basketball training regimen based on the analysis's findings. The research objectives are: 1) To study the results of the analysis of techniques, tactics, and quality of three women's basketball teams. of China in the 32nd Olympic Games. 2) To create a basketball training design based on the analysis results.3) To find the effectiveness of a 3-players basketball training plan created from the results of the game analysis Materials and Methods: This study adopts literature research, investigation, data analysis, logic analysis, and experiment methods. The sample included Chinese basketball players and 32 athletes from seven countries, including Romania, Russia, Italy, Japan, the United States, Mongolia, and France. In the experiment, 15 women's basketball athletes from Zhaoqing College were randomly selected for targeted training, and comprehensive tests were carried out before and after training to evaluate the effectiveness of the training plan. Result: The research results found that 1) Obtain a 3-person basketball training exercise from the game analysis results. 2) Obtain an effective 3-person basketball practice according to the set criteria of 80/80 with an efficiency of 85.75/95.75. It shows that this training plan is very effective for improving the performance of athletes. Conclusion: The 3X3 basketball training method based on the analysis of the game data is very effective for improving the level and performance of the athletes.

Determining Validity and Reliability of an In-Field Performance Analysis System for Swimming

To permit the collection of quantitative data on start, turn and clean swimming performances in any swimming pool, the aims of the present study were to (1) validate a mobile in-field performance analysis system (PAS) against the Kistler starting block equipped with force plates and synchronized to a 2D camera system (KiSwim, Kistler, Winterthur, Switzerland), (2) assess the PAS’s interrater reliability and (3) provide percentiles as reference values for elite junior and adult swimmers. Members of the Swiss junior and adult national swimming teams including medalists at Olympic Games, World and European Championships volunteered for the present study (n = 47; age: 17 ± 4 [range: 13–29] years; World Aquatics Points: 747 ± 100 [range: 527–994]). All start and turn trials were video-recorded and analyzed using two methods: PAS and KiSwim. The PAS involves one fixed view camera recording overwater start footage and a sport action camera that is moved underwater along the side of the pool perpendicular to the swimming lane on a 1.55 m long monostand. From a total of 25 parameters determined with the PAS, 16 are also measurable with the KiSwim, of which 7 parameters showed satisfactory validity (r = 0.95–1.00, p < 0.001, %-difference < 1%). Interrater reliability was determined for all 25 parameters of the PAS and reliability was accepted for 21 of those start, turn and swimming parameters (ICC = 0.78–1.00). The percentiles for all valid and reliable parameters provide reference values for assessment of start, turn and swimming performance for junior and adult national team swimmers. The in-field PAS provides a mobile method to assess start, turn and clean swimming performance with high validity and reliability. The analysis template and manual included in the present article aid the practical application of the PAS in research and development projects as well as academic works.

Legacy and urban regeneration: long-term local impact of the London 2012 Olympic Games

ABSTRACT The 2012 London Olympics Games bid emphasized using the Olympics as an urban regeneration catalyst of one of London’s poorest areas and one of the Games’ legacies. This study’s contribution is an examination of this legacy using 2001–2022 data, analysing the pricing and sales changes in the residential property market in London’s 656 electoral wards, before and after the IOC announced the location of the Games in 2005, and when the Games were held in 2012. The results reveal a slight and short-lived positive difference between the Olympic Park wards and the rest of the city, particularly after the awarding announcement and the Games themselves. Regeneration efforts were successful but not necessarily in the ways outlined in the bid, as the local community (as was prior to the announcement) is not necessarily the main benefactor due to the predictable migration and gentrification of the area. The London Games exemplify the potential legacy of the Olympic Games but is also a cautionary tale for local communities in host cities.

Residents’ trust, perceived benefits and support for mega-sporting events: insights from the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games

PurposeThe purpose of this study was to reveal the interrelationships between residents’ perceived trust, perceived social and personal benefits and event support intention for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. The interrelationships were investigated over time.Design/methodology/approachData were collected twice (Time 1: 7–9 September 2021 and Time 2: 7–9 September 2022) using a panel design. Stratified online sampling was employed based on resident status, age and Olympic and Paralympic viewership (n = 714). Structural equation modelling was employed to analyse the data.FindingsTrust strongly affected personal and social benefits at Time 1 and event support at Time 2. However, social benefits at Time 2 did not significantly influence event support at Time 2. The reciprocal effects of personal and social benefits at Time 1 and Time 2 were observed to be weakly related or not related.Practical implicationsBidding procedures often require public backing. Actors must explain how residents will be affected generally and which benefits might derive from the megasport event. Briefings would also boost event openness. Messages that locals can apply to their own lives are more important than explaining how society will change.Originality/valueThis study contributed to the literature by applying the concepts of trust and buy-in from social exchange theory to the context of mega-sporting events. The findings highlighted that the success of such events hinged on resident buy-in. Contrary to previous studies, this research clarified that while residents may have distrusted certain entities, they still supported the event, indicating that trust and buy-in operated independently.

On the Issue of Defense and Protection of Rights to the National Olympic Emblem in the Russian Federation

Introduction: the legal protection of Olympic symbols in the Russian Federation is based on the institution of recognition of unfair competition provided for by the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition,” which is discussed in this paper. Purpose: consider the effect of the Federal Law “On Protection of Competition” in relation to the rules for the defense and protection of rights to the national Olympic emblem. Methods: the methods of deduction were used (in terms of the reception by the national legislation of the main provisions of the Olympic Charter on the possibility of using symbols only subject to an appropriate agreement with the International Olympic Committee) and induction (in the study of the requirements imposed on the national Olympic emblem by the international normative legal acts). Results: the paper analyzes the national Olympic emblems in the context of their definition in the Olympic Charter, systematizes the aspects of regulating national Olympic symbols that are used by states to individualize the venue of specific Olympic Games, to convey to the public the concepts and traditions of the state in the modern world (for a situation when the games are held in a particular state and they create a special Olympic symbol, characterizing such a state and specific Olympic Games), and the rights to them. Conclusions: the paper concludes that the fourth part of the Russian Federation’s Civil Code should regulate the legitimate use of sporting event symbols, taking into account the need to comply with international acts in cases where the sporting event is of an international nature.

Вікові особливості олімпійських чемпіонів в спортивній боротьбі

Purpose: determine the age characteristics of Olympic champions in three styles of sports wrestling (Greco-Roman, freestyle and women's). Material and methods. The age of Olympic champions from 1896 to 2024 in three styles of sports wrestling: Greco-Roman (29 Olympiads), freestyle (27 Olympiads) and women's (6 Olympiads) was studied. A total of 455 athletes were analyzed: Greco-Roman (n=214), freestyle (n=211) and women's (n=30). The raw data of the wrestlers' performances is taken from the UWW website. The research used the following methods: analysis of scientific and methodological information and Internet sources; analysis of competitive activity protocols; methods of mathematical statistics. Results: the analysis of the age characteristics of Olympic champions during the research period showed that in Greco-Roman wrestling, the average age of athletes varies from 24,1 years to 32,8 years; in freestyle wrestling - from 23,0 years to 29,6 years; in women's wrestling - from 20,3 years to 27,5 years. The youngest champion in Greco-Roman wrestling was 18 years and 8 months, and the oldest was 41 years and 11 months. The youngest freestyle champion was 19 years and 8 months, and the oldest was 40 years and 4 months. In women's wrestling, the youngest and oldest champion was the same wrestler who took part in four Olympics and won four gold medals. She was 18 years and 2 months old at the first Olympics, and 32 years old at the fourth. The most decorated wrestler is Cuban heavyweight Mijain Lopez, who participated in six Olympic Games and won five gold medals. Seven stages of the evolutionary development of wrestling were identified. The youngest average age is observed among athletes at the first stage both in Greco-Roman wrestling (25,39 years) and in freestyle wrestling (23,92 years). The greatest average age of the athletes was at the second stage in the Greco-Roman style (29,36 years) and freestyle (27,52 years) wrestlers. Women's wrestling has been included in the program of the Olympic Games since 2004, so it is only in the last two stages. The average age of the wrinkles does not have a significant difference at these stages. It should be noted that at the last stage, Greco-Roman wrestlers have an average age of almost four years more than representatives of freestyle and women's wrestling. Conclusions. The conducted research made it possible to determine the age characteristics of Olympic champions in three styles of sports wrestling. The results of the study showed that the athletes competed in a wide age range (18-42 years), the average age was 27,82±9,77 years. The majority of athletes were between 22 and 32 years old, which accounted for 80 % of the total number. It was established that in Greco-Roman wrestling, the average age of athletes of all Olympiads is significantly higher (p<0,05) than in freestyle and women's wrestling. It was found that women were younger than men. There was also a weight category effect, with lighter wrestlers being younger than heavier wrestlers.

Les blessures durant les Jeux Olympiques d’été : synthèse des études de surveillance des blessures réalisées par le Comité International Olympique de 2004 à 2021

Introduction : The aim of this article is to present a synthesis of the injury surveillance studies during the Summer Olympic Games from 2008 to 2021.Methods : During each of the 4 Summer Olympic Games from 2008 to 2021, the IOC implemented the same research methodology that was published by Junge et al. in 2008, which consists of the recording by the medical teams of each country and the local organizing committee of all new injuries on a standardized form.Results : During these four studies on the Summer Olympic Games, 1) the injury incidence rate was approximately 10 injuries per 100 registered athletes, with little variation between the Olympic Games, 2) the injury incidence rate was variable between sports with some sports more traumatic than others, and 3) injuries were mainly located at the thigh, knee and ankle, and mainly affecting ligaments, skin and muscles.Conclusion : This collection of injuries set up for the IOC during the Summer Olympic Games from 2008 to 2021, following an identical methodology each time, now provides detailed knowledge of the epidemiology of injuries during the Summer Olympic Games, which allows both to anticipate medical services and the preparation of medical teams, and to develop adapted prevention strategies.

Сучасні аспекти формування збірних команд у баскетболі

The main factor in the development of team game sports, including basketball, is the presence of globalization, professionalization and commercialization processes, which significantly affects the performance of national teams in the most important international starts. Changes in the system of competitive basketball activities have led to a significant expansion of the system of international competitions, which requires from coaches a reasonable approach to the formation of national teams as a basis for successful performance in the Games of the Olympics and World Championships. Material and Methods. The study analyzed the competitive performance of 21 men's and 19 women's national basketball teams that participated in the Olympic Games and World Championships from 1936 to 2020. In order to determine the peculiarities of the formation of national teams in basketball, we analyzed the data of 264 players (men and women) who became medalists of the Olympic Games in the period from 1976 to 2024. Results. The results of the study indicate that the main leaders in modern basketball are the USA men's and women's national teams with the highest percentage of winning medals in the Olympics (31.7% and 30.5%) and World Championships (21.0% and 24.6%). The main focus of the formation of the USA national teams for participation in the Olympic Games coaches - the availability of experience in international competitions (the number of Olympic cycles that the athlete spent as a member of the national team) and the age of athletes. Based on the performance of the men's and women's teams, a trend of increasing number of athletes over the age of 32 is identified, where the maximum value for men (5 players) is observed in 2024 and for women (4) in 2016. Conclusions. The analysis of basketball development shows that the use of modern international experience in the rational formation of national teams allowed to establish that the integral component is the age of players, professional experience of participation in international competitions as part of the national team, as well as the universalization of player training. At this stage of basketball development, there is a tendency to increase the age of female athletes who are members of national teams, which provides an effective rotation over several Olympic cycles

Self-Reported Use of Prohibited Substances and Methods Among Athletes of the Brazilian Delegations.

Use of prohibited substances and methods (doping) by elite athletes is a complex and multifactorial behavior. Understanding the factors associated with doping behavior is crucial to identifying potential intervention targets to reduce doping among this group. However, there are limited data on the prevalence and correlations of self-reported prohibited substance use among Brazilian Olympic athletes. We present data from a cross-sectional, self-reported online survey. Participants were elite Brazilian athletes who participated in the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. A total of 209 athletes (52.6% females) from both Brazilian delegations were surveyed. The self-reported doping use of prohibited substances or methods was found to be 7.2%. Receiving a recommendation from a medical doctor, even knowing that the substance is prohibited, was associated with an increased risk of self-reported doping use (OR = 17.474; 95% CI = 4.664-65.470, P < 0.001). Nearly 1 in 10 athletes reported use in their careers. Medical recommendation to use substances was the only factor associated with an increased risk of doping among elite athletes.

Competition Analysis of 100 m freestyle at the 2024 Olympic Games, Paris

Competition Analysis of 100 m freestyle at the 2024 Olympic Games, Paris

Changing Horses in Midstream: Modern Pentathlon After the 2024 Olympic Games.

The decision of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne to replace horse riding with Obstacle after the 2024 Olympic Games challenges training, testing, and recovery management in Modern Pentathlon. This commentary discusses physiological, technical, and tactical effects of rule changes in the 5 disciplines with a specific focus on the new discipline Obstacle. Modern Pentathlon requires athletes to develop specific endurance capacities relying on both the aerobic and anaerobic systems while simultaneously increasing lower- and upper-body strength capabilities. In addition, movements must be repeatedly executed in an explosive and precise manner. Running and swimming must be fast but economical. Swapping from horse riding to Obstacle will prioritize the explosive strength of the upper extremities and core while keeping high levels of endurance and precision in swimming, fencing, and shooting. Moreover, condensing the Modern Pentathlon competition to a 90-minute television-friendly format enables more competitions in the future. Athletes and coaches will thus also need to develop and maintain effective individual peri-exercise routines (before, during, and after the competition) to successfully meet the resulting tactical and physical challenges of the new format. This commentary aims to stimulate the discussion on the effect of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne's decisions to replace riding with the new Obstacle discipline and implement a more television-friendly format with a focus on physiological, technical, and tactical aspects.

Marseille, au cœur des Jeux Olympiques : organisation médicale autour de la voile

During the summer of 2024, France had the honour of hosting the Olympic Games. Although these Olympics were mainly held in Paris, Marseille was also lucky enough to be a playground for the sailing events and football matches. The sailing races in the Marina de Marseille required rigorous medical organisation between the various Paris 2024 stakeholders and the state services. Thanks to the professionalism of everyone involved, the events went off without a hitch, allowing all spectators and participants in the games to enjoy a safe and sporting atmosphere.

Міграція в спортивній боротьбі: аналіз виступів на Олімпійських Іграх 2024 в Парижі

Purpose: to analyze the achievements of migrant wrestlers at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. Material and methods.The following methods are used in the research: analysis of scientific and methodical sources, analysis of the results of sportsmen's performances and methods of mathematical statistics. The study was conducted to analyze the number of migrant athletes, their results in competitions, as well as age and weight characteristics in each style of wrestling (women's wrestling, Greco-Roman wrestling, freestyle wrestling). The data is taken from the official website «United World of Wrestling» (https://unitedworldwrestling.org). The percentage of migrants, their average age, weight categories and places they occupied were analyzed, with further processing of statistical indicators to identify patterns in their performance. Results: the results of the study showed that 34 migrant athletes participated in the 2024 Olympic Games, with the largest number (24,0 %) observed in freestyle wrestling, while the figure was the lowest in women's wrestling at 2,1 %. The analysis also found that migrant athletes have an average age of 29,5 years, indicating their experience.Almost a third of them won prizes, in particular, 8,8 % became winners, and 29,4 % won prizes. Despite the high achievements, 35,3 % of the athletes ranked 10 and below, which indicates a wide variety of results among migrants. A comparison with previous studies confirmed the tendency of athletes to change their citizenship after the peak of their career. Migrant athletes aged 24-27 make up the largest group, indicating their strategy to achieve international success after achieving the best results in their careers. Conclusions. Migrant athletes participating in the 2024 Olympic Games showed a high level of results, especially in freestyle wrestling. Their participation and success confirm that changing citizenship is an important strategy for further achievements in international competitions, especially after the peak period of a sports career.

The newsworthiness of Gu Ailing: a comparative critical discourse analysis of Chinese and American media reports

Integrating discursive news values analysis and the discourse historical approach, this study compares the discursive construction of newsworthiness in the Chinese and American media’s reportage of the controversial US-born athlete Gu Ailing (or Eileen Gu), who chose to compete for China in the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games. It is found that the Chinese media associated Gu with grand narratives of the attraction of Chinese culture, the national image of supporting talents’ self-realization, and the propagation of a diversified youth culture. The American media, by contrast, mainly focused on representing Gu’s affinity with China as serving a country with different political systems and values. The present study demonstrates how a synthesis of discursive news values analysis and the discourse historical approach can enable discourse analysts to delineate news-value construing praxis through a critical ideological lens.

Estimating the snow density using collocated Parsivel and Micro-Rain Radar measurements: a preliminary study from ICE-POP 2017/2018

Abstract. A new method is developed to derive the bulk density and bulk water fraction of a population of particles from collocated measurements from the Micro-Rain Radar (MRR) and Particle Size and Velocity disdrometer (Parsivel). A rigorous particle-scattering simulation, namely the T-matrix method, is applied to Parsivel's particle size distribution data to calculate the reflectivity (ZHH). The possible combinations of the particle's ice, air, and water are derived to compare them with the MRR-measured ZHH. The combination of the minimum water fraction and maximum ice fraction subsequently determines the bulk density (ρbulk). The proposed method is applied to the data collected from the International Collaborative Experiments for Pyeongchang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic winter games (ICE-POP 2018) projects and its pre-campaign. The estimated ρbulk was examined independently by a comparison of the liquid-equivalent snowfall rate (SR) of collocated Pluvio devices. The bias values are adequately low (SR: −0.25–0.06 mm h−1). The retrieved bulk density also shows good consistency with collocated Precipitation Imaging Package (PIP) retrievals. The results indicate the capability of the proposed algorithm to derive reliable ρbulk, leveraging the compact and easily deployable designs of MRR and Parsivel. The derived bulk density of the two warm–low cases (28 February and 7 March 2018) shares a similar transition as the systems were decaying. The higher bulk density and bulk water fraction were found in the coastal sites (BKC and GWU have a median value of ρbulk and are 0.05 to 0.12 g cm−3), typically accompanied by higher liquid-water constituents (mean values of the top 5 % bulk water fraction are 0.07 to 0.45) than the inland sites (YPO and MHS have a median value of ρbulk and are 0.06 to 0.10, and mean values of the top 5 % bulk water fraction are 0.001 to 0.008) during such synoptic conditions.

Understanding following patterns among high-performance athletes

Abstract Professional sport enhances social interaction among athletes through meetings such as training groups, large-scale competitions and sponsored events. Among these, the Olympic Games represent the largest international competition, having a unique global impact. This event is assumed to promote international cooperation through the values of sport, becoming an opportunity for creating global connections between athletes. Here we want to understand the properties of the following activity, an indicator of the information flows, between highly successful Olympic athletes both at microscopic and macroscopic scales. To do so, we built a database including the Twitter usernames of Olympic medallists in Tokyo 2020, using it for creating the follower-followee network, a directed network representing who followed whom in this social network. From our database of 1052 athletes, we found 7326 connections among 964 athletes. The most popular athletes, those with highest number of followers, were Kevin Durant (basketball, USA), Allyson Felix (athletics, USA), Teddy Riner (judo, France), Alex Morgan (football, USA) and Simone Biles (gymnastics, USA). The macro-scale network structure displayed organized patterns related to microscopic—node—properties such as sex, country and sport, evidencing assortative connectivity patterns. These assortative patterns highlighted the need for a model quantifying the features’ importance in the followees choice, which we introduced through a gravity approach modelling the number of connections between homogeneous groups. Our research remarks the importance of datasets built from public exposure of professional athletes, serving as a proxy to investigate interesting aspects of many complex socio-cultural systems at different scales.

Sacred Games: nietzsche and huizinga in dialogue – an inquiry into the olympic and paralympic games

ABSTRACT This article examines the sacredness of modern sports games by comparing the Olympic and Paralympic Games with the ancient Greek Olympics and analysing the evolution of ethos between ancient and modern games. Drawing on the theories of Johan Huizinga and Friedrich Nietzsche, it identifies an originary structure of sacred play that contributes to the formation of social and cultural identity. Concepts of sacredness, rituality, and agonism in ancient games are explored to understand their influence on modern games. Through a hermeneutic investigation of Huizinga and Nietzsche’s works, the article identifies six fundamental elements of sacred play: inviolable rules, space separated from daily reality, symbolic and cultural meaning, experience of transcendence, reflection of myths and meanings, and self-affirmation, self-overcoming and creativity. These elements are applied to the modern Olympic and Paralympic Games, highlighting their presence in shared rituals and symbols. The discussion focuses on the tension between the traditional Olympic Ethos and the current Efficiency Ethos, highlighting the possible implications on the elements of Olympic sacredness. Finally, it calls for critical reflection on the values and practices of the Olympic and Paralympic Games to preserve their sacredness over time.