Understanding the Olympics explores the full social, cultural, political, historical and economic context to the Olympic Games. It traces the history of the Olympic movement from its origins in ancient Greece, through its revival in the nineteenth century, to the modern mega-event of today. Written to engage and inform, the book includes illustrations, information boxes, chronologies, glossaries and ‘Olympic stories’ in every chapter. This is essential reading for anybody with an interest in the Olympics or the wider relationship between sport and society.