Drehberg Olympic Games

An Overlooked Phenomenon in Cultural and Sports Heritage Tourism of the Dessau-Wörlitz Region

Dados Bibliográficos

ID22007392
AutoresMateusz Rozmiarek (0000-0002-5955-0790, Hungarian University of Sports Science), Izabella Parowicz (0000-0003-1034-7596, European University Viadrina, autor correspondente), Arkadiusz Włodarczyk (0000-0003-2263-2474, Józef Piłsudski University of Physical Education in Warsaw)
Ano2026
Páginas1-22
Data de publicação2026-06-23
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoHeritage & Society (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2159-032X • E-ISSN: 2159-0338
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/2159032x.2026.2693434
OpenAlexW7165784468
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas30

At the close of the eighteenth century, the village of Drehberg became the site of an annual local sporting event, classified as a pseudo-Olympics or pre-modern Olympic Games. After a hiatus of nearly 190 years, this tradition has been revived in contemporary times. This article examines both the historical event and the locality within the conceptual framework of cultural and sports heritage tourism, with particular emphasis on the safeguarding and preservation of cultural heritage. Employing a methodological triangulation – including archival research, expert and standardized interviews, field visits, and content analysis of tourist guidebooks – it explores both the tangible and intangible dimensions of this heritage phenomenon. The findings reveal a pronounced discrepancy between the cultural significance attributed to the Drehberg Olympic Games and their marginal representation within the tourism discourse of the Dessau-Wörlitz Garden Realm, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The article contends that Drehberg, through its unique integration of sport, education, historical tradition, and local identity, possesses considerable – yet largely untapped – potential as a heritage tourism destination. In light of this, the article underscores the imperative to reassess existing promotional strategies and to develop new narrative frameworks that would reposition Drehberg within the cultural and touristic landscape of the Dessau-Wörlitz region

Cultural heritage · Cultural heritage management · Heritage tourism · Industrial heritage · Narrative · Phenomenon · Safeguarding · Tourism · Cultural Heritage Management and Preservation · Diverse Aspects of Tourism Research · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts