Why corruption always follows the Olympics

Опубликовано: 04 Апрель 2026
на канале: LIS - The London Interdisciplinary School
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The Olympics are a global celebration of sport, but behind the scenes, the bidding process to become a host city is often mired in corruption. We delve into the mechanisms that make this corruption almost inevitable.

Using an interdisciplinary approach, we draw insights from systems thinking and selectorate theory—a concept from political science that explains how the size of the group selecting leaders influences their behaviour.
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#olympics #university #sports #sport

Sources:

'The Logic of Political Survival' by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita, Alastair Smith, Randolph M. Siverson, James D. Morrow

'The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behaviour is Always Good Politics' by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith,

BBC: Rio Olympics: Ex-governor says he paid $2m bribe

BBC: Lamine Diack: Former IAAF head found guilty of corruption and jailed

New York Times: Leaders of Salt Lake Olympic Bid Are Indicted in Bribery Scandal

Japan Times: Former Tokyo Olympics executive Yasuo Mori admits to bid-rigging charges

Sky News: Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Police raid headquarters of organising committee in suspected corruption probe

New York Times: Olympic Official Who Delivered Rio Games Sentenced to 30 Years for Bribery

Bloomberg: Paris Olympics May Bring $12 Billion Boost, Study Shows

Mirror: Olympics official says 2000 Games in Sydney were 'bought to a large extent'

NBC: Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter indicted for fraud