Opening Ceremonies of International Sports Events

The Other Face of Chinese Soft Power

Bibliographic Data

ID12219008
AuthorsDaniel Ricardo Lemus Delgado (0000-0003-1002-5319, Tecnológico de Monterrey, corresponding author)
Year2016
Volume33
Issue5
Pages607-623
Publication date2016-03-21
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe International Journal of the History of Sport (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0952-3367 • E-ISSN: 1743-9035
PublisherRoutledge (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/09523367.2016.1159200
OpenAlexW2320609089
LanguageEN
Citations received8

This paper analyzes the relationship between the opening ceremonies of international sports events and the building of a positive image of China. To do so, we draw on the concept of soft power, which establishes that one way in which states seek to achieve their goals in the international arena is through attraction rather than coercion. From this perspective, the construction of promedia images is one of the privileged means to deploy soft power. Thus, this paper examines the favourable projection of China’s image at inaugural ceremonies of international sports events. These images show China as a country heir to a millenary past and brilliant civilization, which aims to assist in the construction of a better future. The paper concludes by highlighting the importance of these events in the construction of a collective imaginary about what government elites establish regarding what China is and should be on the international stage

China · Civilization · Coercion (linguistics · Economics · Economy · Face (sociological concept · Government (linguistics · Media studies · Perspective (graphical · Political economy · Political science · Power (physics · Social science · Sociology · Soft power · The Imaginary · Visual arts · Law · Psychology · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts · Sports, Gender, and Society

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