Olympic and Paralympic games Books

Book SynopsisFresh from his triumphant and extraordinary achievement at the Olympic Games in Beijing, Michael Phelps—up from working-class, born-in-the-USA roots—shows us the secrets to his remarkable success—from training to execution.For years the world has followed Michael Phelps’s progress from teen sensation in Sydney to bona fide phenom in Athens. Now he’s a living Olympic legend in Beijing with a peerless record of gold medals. In No Limits, Michael Phelps—the greatest competitor since Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods—will share the secrets to his remarkable success. Behind his tally of Olympic gold medals lies a consistent approach to competition, a determination to win, mental preparation, and a straightforward passion for his sport. One of his mottos is “Performance is Reality,” and it typifies his attitude about swimming. No Limits goes behind the scenes to explore the hard work, sacrifice, and dedica

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Book SynopsisEvery four years the summer Olympic Games capture the world's attention. Over 10,000 athletes from more than 200 countries gather to prove they are the best in their sports. From the first competition held in 1896 to the 2012 London Olympics, the games have hosted some of swimming's greatest victories and toughest defeats. Fans have witnessed Johnny Weissmuller win back-to-back Olympic gold medals before he found fame on the big screen as Tarzan; they have seen Dara Torres defy age to win three silver medals at the age of 41; and they will forever remember Michael Phelps capturing a record eight gold medals at the 2008 games. The Most Memorable Moments in Olympic Swimming relives the sport's greatest moments on its biggest stage. Through careful research and the personal recollections from the athletes themselves, John Lohn has brought together the key performances, top athletes, major controversies, and improbable victories of the games. Organized chronologically, the progression of sTrade ReviewThis book, part of the Rowman & Littlefield Swimming Series, highlights 25 of the best moments in swimming history. The chronologically ordered moments included here were history-making, had a huge emotional impact, were totally thrilling, or transcended the sport in some way. The vignettes do not just list the facts, but tell the history of the moment under discussion and the sport itself. The book begins with Australian Fanny Durack's win in the 100 freestyle at the 1912 Stockholm games and concludes with 41-year-old American Dara Torres's three silver medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In between, the book features moments such as Mark Spitz's seven gold medals at the 1972 games in Munich, forced doping by the East German women's swimmers in the 1970's and 1980's, the American boycott of the 1980 summer games in Moscow, the gold medal 100 butterfly race by Anthony Nesty of Suriname at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, and the U.S. men's 400 freestyle relay at the 2008 games in Beijing under the anchor leg by Jason Lezak. The book has six appendixes, a bibliography, and an index. This would be a welcome addition for a library looking for reference materials on swimming or sports; it will also appeal to a general audience. * American Reference Books Annual *Table of ContentsChronology Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: Welcome the Women Chapter 2: Before He Swung From Vines Chapter 3: The Dawn of Greatness Chapter 4: Meyer's Gold Mine Chapter 5: Seven For Spitz Chapter 6: Hello, and Goodbye Chapter 7: A Matter of Timing Chapter 8: Gulping Down Gold Chapter 9: USA All the Way Chapter 10: Brigitha Breaks Barrier Chapter 11: Political Pawns Chapter 12: Rowdy's Reaction Chapter 13: A Tie Game Chapter 14: The Best of Biondi Chapter 15: Nesty Nets Gold Chapter 16: The Dragon Slayer Chapter 17: A Tale of Redemption Chapter 18: Gold-Medal Guitar Chapter 19: Eric the Eel Chapter 20: A Tie Between Teammates Chapter 21: Race of the Century Chapter 22: An Illegal Kickstart Chapter 23: An Anchor's Way Chapter 24: A Half-Stroke For History Chapter 25: Age is Just a Number Chapter 26: Under Consideration Appendix A: The Olympic Games (Dates/Sites) Appendix B: Most Overall Medals (By Country) Appendix C: Most Gold Medals (Career) Appendix D: Most Medals (Career) Appendix E: Most Gold Medals (Olympiad) Appendix F: Most Medals (Olympiad) Bibliography Index About the Author

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Book SynopsisCanada''s first Olympic gold medallist couldn''t walk until he was ten, and became the greatest runner of his generation.Who was the first Canadian to Win an Olympic Gold Medal? When Mark Hebscher was asked this simple trivia question, he had no idea that it would lead him on a two year odyssey, researching a man he had never heard of. Paralyzed as a child and told he would never walk again, George Washington Orton persevered, eventually becoming the greatest distance runner of his generation, a world-class hockey player, and a brilliant scholar. A sports pioneer, Orton came up with the idea of numbered football jerseys and introduced ice hockey to Philadelphia. Orton''s 1900 Paris Olympic medals were credited to the United States for seven decades before the mistake was uncovered and rectified. Yet he is virtually unknown in Canada. Finally, his story is being told.Trade ReviewMark Hebscher has brought to life George Washington Orton for all of us to enjoy with his book The Greatest Athlete. Mark's research and writing skills combined with his finding so many historic pictures capture a person and a time that had escaped us. A job well done. * Jerry Howarth, veteran Toronto Blue Jays broadcaster *I liked that you mixed in other sports, like Jack Dempsey boxing and Man O’War and horse racing. That Orton was some kind of guy. Too bad he didn't spend more time in Canada or we'd all know about him. Great story, though. * Don Cherry, Hockey Night in Canada *Always a fount of sports knowledge and trivia, Hebscher sets the record straight on a great Canadian athlete long overlooked or forgotten altogether. An entertaining and informative read. Mark's high-energy personality and unbridled love for sport shine through on every page. * Rob Baker, The Tragically Hip guitarist *Hebsy has written an incredibly detailed and intriguing story of Canadian George Washington Orton. As an Olympian, I always find it fascinating to hear stories of athletes in my sport and see where our training and traditions originated. Washington was the first to introduce the use of a stopwatch to ensure proper pacing – something I use in all my distance training. But his amazing story goes beyond track and field. His work and skill in hockey and soccer, as well as his intellect (fluent in nine languages), are beyond compare. Highly recommended reading for all Canadians and all those interested in sport. * Damian Warner, 2016 Olympic Bronze Decathlon, Pan Am and Commonwealth Games gold-medal decathlete *A fascinating book about an extraordinary sporting figure that darts through history while bleeding with the passions of the author. Intimate despite the distance of a forgotten age, and personal in the investment Hebsy makes to pursue Orton’s ghost. * Dave Bidini, author of Midnight Light and publisher of the West End Phoenix *Due to the limits of the English language, the jacket of this book can't possibly prepare the reader for what I guarantee is a wild ride. George Washington Orton somehow landed in history's dustbin – obscurity doesn't quite capture it. Thank God Mark Hebscher rescued the most unlikely sports story I've read in years. * Gare Joyce, author of The Code and Every Spring A Parade Down Bay Street *The best historians must also be good detectives. Mark Hebscher proves here that he's both, casting aside Canadian modesty to celebrate the somehow-obscure story of an Ontario kid who went on to change the face of sports around the world. Hebscher does so in the same conversational way that made him a beloved broadcasting legend; you can hear the incredulity in his voice leap off the page as he unspools this inspiring tale that has been neglected in the annals of sports history. This isn't just for jocks, far from it: I don't even like sports, but in the hands of Hebscher, this is a total page-turner. * Michael Barclay, author of The Never-Ending Present: The Story of Gord Downie and the Tragically Hip *Kudos to Mark Hebscher for discovering a long-forgotten Canadian hero as the subject of his first book. George Washington Orton was a true Renaissance man – a great athlete, scholar, writer, teacher and many other things – whose story is fascinating. This book is well worth your time. * David Shoalts, sportswriter for the Globe and Mail and author of Hockey Fight in Canada *Chasing ghosts is a mug's game. Moreso when the ghost is a world-class turn-of-the-century runner. But Mark Hebscher is dogged, tracking down the bizarrely under-told story of Canadian athletic legend George Orton, a steeplechase phenom who knew something about pace. As does author Hebscher. His book is a commendable yarn and a race to the finish. * Brad Wheeler, arts writer, the Globe and Mail *There’s a generation that thinks everything that ever happened can be Googled. It can’t. History is hard work. In The Greatest Athlete (You’ve Never Heard Of), a hard-working Mark Hebscher tells the story of George Washington Orton and tells stories about his story – including the story of Canada’s own slow embrace of self-identity and pride in its own. * Jim Slotek, journalist *

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Book SynopsisOlympic gymnast and Cirque du Soleil acrobat Mary Sanders shares her incredible story of dedication and personal sacrifice that led to success and reinvention.Mary Sanders was handed an Olympic dream by her father from the moment she was born. Determined to follow in his footsteps, the young gymnast struggled through training setbacks, financial hardships, and personal rivalries, under a cloud of grief, to compete in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. But that achievement was only the beginning for a woman determined to reinvent herself and consistently raise her own standards for success.In this revealing memoir, Mary recounts her journey from Olympian to Cirque du Soleil acrobat to entertainment executive working for Shark Tank's Robert Herjavec while balancing life at home with two children. Through it all, no matter what obstacles are thrown in her path, Mary pushes forward, leaning on her faith, her family, and her enduring optimism to suTrade ReviewComing from a sport that is often under the radar and underappreciated, Mary has risen above it all. Time and time again she has shown the world what it means to be a champion. And now, this memoir of courage and perseverance is guaranteed to inspire readers to take ownership of their lives. * Andrea Joyce, NBC Sportscaster *Poise and fortitude have taken Mary from a celebrated athlete to conquering the entertainment world. I am proud of her growth and her willingness to mentor and inspire other women. * Beth Stevenson, Founder and Executive Producer, Brain Power Studio *Mary’s many lives are the result of who she is today, an incredibly humble talent and a fearless leader. * Noah Galloway, bestselling author of Living with No Excuses *Sanders’ resume begs for the memoir treatment. 9 Lives by 35 showcases a high-flying life that readers will find thoroughly inspiring. * Booklist *Table of ContentsForeword 1st Life: Child Gymnast 2nd Life: Rhythmic Gymnast3rd Life: Olympian 4th Life: Acrobat 5th Life: The Soloist 6th Life: Creative Director & Choreographer 7th Life: Entertainment Executive 8th Life: Wife & Mother 9th Life: Writer, Actor, Producer Acknowledgements About the Author

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Book Synopsis For Olympic athletes, fans and the media alike, the games bring out the best sport has to offer--unity, patriotism, friendly competition and the potential for stunning upsets. Yet wherever international competition occurs, politics are never far removed. Early in the Cold War, when all U.S.-Soviet interactions were treated as potential matters of life and death, each side tried to manipulate the International Olympic Committee. Despite the IOC''s efforts to keep the games apolitical, they were quickly drawn into the superpowers'' global struggle for supremacy, with medal counts the ultimate prize. Based on IOC, U.S. government and contemporary media sources, this book looks at six consecutive Olympiads to show how high the stakes became once the Soviets began competing in 1952, threatening America''s athletic supremacy.

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Book SynopsisBy examining how the Olympic movement developed in Puerto Rico, Antonio Sotomayor illuminates the profound role sports play in the political and cultural processes of an identity that evolved within a political tradition of autonomy rather than traditional political independence.Trade Review"Sotomayor gives undergraduate students and specialists an authoritative compendium of Puerto Rico’s politics during a period when the territory was billed as a regional showcase for the benefits of American power."—Reinaldo L. Román, American Historical Review"Sports is a subject that has not been studied in depth in Puerto Rican historiography in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, and this book contributes to filling that void."—Felix R. Huertas Gonzalez, Journal of American History"Well written, meticulously researched, and very timely, this book is highly recommended to both scholar and lay reader alike."—Sport in American History"[The Sovereign Colony is] a reading feast for Puerto Rican sport fans. . . . It contributes to the understanding of colonialism where the agency of colonial subjects is emphasized in their negotiations of power structures. . . . A must read for scholars of U.S. and Caribbean history."—Rosa Elena Carrasquillo, Diplomatic History"An innovative approach to Puerto Rico's coloniality through the prism of sports. . . . This accessible account of Puerto Rican sport provides a great introduction to the complex issues of contemporary coloniality and will be an excellent addition to undergraduate collections."—B. A. Lucero, Choice“How is it that Puerto Rico participates with a sovereign team in the International Olympic Games? The answer to that question and Puerto Rico’s sporting success in the Central American and Caribbean Games provides the fascinating subject for Antonio Sotomayor’s book. He explains the baffling and perplexing dimensions of international sport.”—William H. Beezley, author of Judas at the Jockey Club and Other Episodes of Porfirian Mexico "Sotomayor's impressive volume says not only a great deal about the relationship between Puerto Rico and the US, but can be used in parallel to analyze similar colonial and territorial interrelationships within the geopolitics of global sport."—Matthew L. McDowell, Spectacular Tableau“A highly readable book that invites us to rethink many familiar tenets about contemporary colonialism, adding an important dimension to the last quarter century’s debates on what constitutes a nation—and how sports may help fashion one.”—Francisco A. Scarano, professor of history at the University of Wisconsin–MadisonTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsList of AbbreviationsIntroduction 1. Sport in Imperial Exchanges 2. The Rise of a Colonial Olympic Movement, 1930s 3. Legitimizing Colonial Olympism in a Colonial Nation, 1940s 4. The Commonwealth and the Search for Colonial Sovereignty through Olympism 5. A Cold War Playing Field in the 1966 Central American and Caribbean Games 6. The Eternal Overtime? Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe spectacle of major cultural and sporting events can preoccupy modern societies. This book is concerned with contemporary mega-events, like the Olympics and Expos. Using a sociological perspective Roche argues that mega-events reflect the major social changes which now influence our societies, particularly in the West, and that these amount to a new ‘second phase’ of the modernization process. Changes are particularly visible in the media, urban and global locational aspects of mega-events. Thus he suggests that contemporary mega-events, both in their achievements and their vulnerabilities, reflect, in the media sphere, the rise of the internet; in the urban sphere, de-industrialisation and the growing ecological crisis; and in the global sphere, the relative decline of the West and the rise of China and other ‘emerging’ countries.Table of ContentsIntroduction1 Mega-events and macro-social changePART I: Mega-events and media change2 Mega-events and mediatisation: between ‘old’ and ‘new’ media3 The ‘Digital Age’, media-sport and mega-events: ‘piracy’ and symbiosis in the cultural industriesPART II: Mega-events, legacy and urban change 4 Embedding mega-events: staging spectacles in changing cities5 Mega-events and urban development: Olympics and ‘legacies’6 Mega-events, urban space and social change: expos, parks and citiesPART III: Mega-events and global change in East and West 7 Mega-events, globalisation and urban legacy: events in China in the early twenty-first century8 Mega-events, glocalisation and urban legacy: London as an ‘event city’ and the 2012 OlympicsIndex

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Book SynopsisThe spectacle of major cultural and sporting events can preoccupy modern societies. This book is concerned with contemporary mega-events, like the Olympics and Expos. Using a sociological perspective Roche argues that mega-events reflect the major social changes which now influence our societies, particularly in the West, and that these amount to a new ‘second phase’ of the modernization process. Changes are particularly visible in the media, urban and global locational aspects of mega-events. Thus he suggests that contemporary mega-events, both in their achievements and their vulnerabilities, reflect, in the media sphere, the rise of the internet; in the urban sphere, de-industrialisation and the growing ecological crisis; and in the global sphere, the relative decline of the West and the rise of China and other ‘emerging’ countries.Table of ContentsIntroduction1 Mega-events and macro-social changePART I: Mega-events and media change2 Mega-events and mediatisation: between ‘old’ and ‘new’ media3 The ‘Digital Age’, media-sport and mega-events: ‘piracy’ and symbiosis in the cultural industriesPART II: Mega-events, legacy and urban change 4 Embedding mega-events: staging spectacles in changing cities5 Mega-events and urban development: Olympics and ‘legacies’6 Mega-events, urban space and social change: expos, parks and citiesPART III: Mega-events and global change in East and West 7 Mega-events, globalisation and urban legacy: events in China in the early twenty-first century8 Mega-events, glocalisation and urban legacy: London as an ‘event city’ and the 2012 OlympicsIndex

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Book SynopsisKaitlin Sandeno was one of the world’s greatest and most versatile swimmers. Competing at the 2000 and 2004 Olympics, she was a part of the world record breaking 4x200-meter relay team and is one of an elite few to medal in three different strokes. In Golden Glow: How Kaitlin Sandeno Achieved Gold in the Pool and in Life, Dan D’Addona recounts Sandeno’s amazing swimming career, including her spectacular Olympic performances, and details the impact she has made in the world outside the pool. Breaking into the Olympics at seventeen years old, she became the face of the team with her enthusiasm and bubbly personality. She returned to the Olympics four years later to have one of the most dominating meets by an American woman in history. But Sandeno’s legacy in the pool is nothing compared to how she has used her platform to help those around her. She is the national spokesperson for the Jessie Rees Foundation and spreads joy around the country to children with cancer. She has emceed Olympic trials, hosted multiple shows for USA Swimming, and has given back to her sport, working for USA Swimming and coaching youth teams. Golden Glow is not only the story of how hard work and perseverance led Sandeno to Olympic gold, but also how she has used her success in the pool to inspire those around her.Trade ReviewKaitlin's great new book demonstrates the dedication and "never give up" attitude of a two-time Olympian and real champion. Following her decorated swimming career, she continues that message working with the Jessie Rees Foundation and supporting children with cancer. This book details Kaitlin's inspiring journey and reflects the positive work Kaitlin has done both inside and outside the pool. -- Katie Ledecky, five-time Olympic gold medalist and fourteen-time world record breakerFrom the early days to the triumphs and challenges of an illustrious career, Golden Glow gives the reader insight into the mindset of an Olympic champion. This story shows how Kaitlin has not only parleyed her Olympic success into a successful career outside the pool but how she has used that Olympic platform to help countless others through her work as national spokesperson for the Jessie Rees Foundation. -- Natalie Coughlin, three-time Olympic swimmer and twelve-time Olympic medalistKaitlin’s infectious personality has always made her special but her story and how she’s grown as an athlete, woman, and philanthropist is truly special. Golden Glow shares her story and is a great read for other young athletes to learn from. -- Missy Franklin, 2012 and 2016 Olympic swimmer, five-time Olympic gold medalist, and world record-holderYou will enjoy reading more about this beautiful swimmer who you probably fell in love with while watching her win Olympic medals. But what you will appreciate more is getting to know who she is out of the pool and the incredibly positive impact she has on everyone she meets. You will feel it through the pages. -- Summer Sanders, Olympic gold medalist and sports commentator

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Book SynopsisIn the early 1900s, the Olympic Games track and field throwing events were dominated by a group of Irish-born weight throwers representing the United States. These athletes came to be known as the “Irish Whales”—primarily because of their immense size and larger-than-life presence. The Irish Whales: Olympians of Old New York shares the untold story of these Irish American athletes who competed with unparalleled distinction for the United States. James Mitchell, John Flanagan, Martin Sheridan, Pat McDonald, Paddy Ryan, and Con Walsh won a total of eighteen medals in the Olympic Games between 1900 and 1924 and completely dominated the world stage in their chosen athletic disciplines. They were lionized in the American and Irish press and became folk heroes among Irish-American immigrant communities. Almost all of these men were further distinguished by their membership in the fabled Irish American Athletic Club of New York and careers with the New York Police Department.The story of the Irish Whales is the very embodiment of the American Dream and exemplifies the triumph of many Irish emigrants in the New World. Featuring a wonderful collection of original photographs, The Irish Whales tells the dramatic stories of these international athletes and their extraordinary sporting successes.

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Book SynopsisThis book chronicles the struggles and triumphs of African American athletes in the Modern Olympic Games, from 1896 through the 2020 Tokyo Games. It explores the lives and careers of both legendary and little-known Black Olympians as they sought to honor themselves, their race, and their nation on the world stage.

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Book SynopsisThe extraordinary true story of the U.S. sled hockey team that overcame physical adversity and internal strife to win Paralympic gold.When former NHL star Rick Middleton accepted the position of head coach for the United States sled hockey team, he wasn’t sure what to expect. The program had never medaled—had never even come close, in fact. But where Middleton might have found despair, he instead found an incredible group of men who had battled their way back from hell to play the sport they love.In Hockey’s Hidden Gods: The Untold Story of a Paralympic Miracle on Ice, S.C. Megale uncovers the remarkable tale of a team that shocked the world by taking U.S. sled hockey from worst to first in the 2002 Paralympics. Odds of winning were dismal. The road to victory seemed unfathomable. But this cast of fifteen athletes with disabilities, athletes who had helped build a groundbreaking U.S. sled hockey program with almost no outside support, ultimately persevered on the global stage. Featuring a fascinating history of sled hockey, exclusive interviews with players and coaches, action-packed game coverage, and intimate profiles sharing the players’ personal journeys, Hockey’s Hidden Gods is the uplifting story of how once-shattered dreams can be reborn and rebuilt through tenacity, grit, and an indomitable spirit.Trade ReviewA great book and story about another miracle: the hard work, dedication, and sacrifices these young men went through to accomplish an incredible goal. The incredible effort individually and collectively that they put together to win their gold medal is a great message for all of us. -- Mike Eruzione, captain of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” US Olympic Hockey teamThe stories told within these pages will capture your heart and challenge you to think differently. From the history of the incredible sport of sled hockey, to the stories of community, taking risks, defining and redefining winning, and the true passion and dedication to overcoming adversity, this book is a true victor’s tale. The way the pages flow purposefully together and weave with emotion will leave you wanting more. It is a privilege to have these stories shared, and to experience life through the eyes of those within. -- Jim Craig, Goaltender of the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” U.S. Olympic Hockey teamTable of ContentsForewordPrefaceIntroductionKey for Player StatsChapter 1: Lake of Legend: Sled Hockey’s History, Rules, and EquipmentChapter 2: Manny Guerra, Jr.Chapter 3: NaganoChapter 4: Joe HowardChapter 5: Gathering the TeamChapter 6: Sly FlisChapter 7: Training ChampionsChapter 8: Patrick ByrneChapter 9: Arriving in Salt Lake CityChapter 10: Dave ConklinChapter 11: Game One: USA vs. JapanChapter 12: Chris MannsChapter 13: Game Two: USA vs. CanadaChapter 14: Josh WirtChapter 15: Game Three: USA vs. NorwayChapter 16: Brian RuheChapter 17: Kip St. GermaineChapter 18: Game Four: USA vs. SwedenChapter 19: Dan HendersonChapter 20: Game Five: USA vs. EstoniaChapter 21: James DunhamChapter 22: Pat SappChapter 23: The Storm Before the StormChapter 24: Gold Medal Game: USA vs. NorwayChapter 25: Lonnie HannahChapter 26: Matt Coppens and Jack SandersChapter 27: AftermathConclusionAcknowledgmentsAbout the Author

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Book Synopsis Sports, and in particular the Olympic Games, are enjoying a rapid increase in interest among social scientists worldwide, who see them as important "public events." This volume offers the first analysis of the Winter Olympic Games, primarily based on the Lillehammer Games of 1994. The authors identify "olympism" as a key agent in the modernization process and, more specifically, ask how the winter games, as a mega-event, relate to Norwegian culture and ethos. The authors of these specially commissioned papers examine various aspects of this encounter, including problems such as gender as related to nature and culture, masculinity and heroism, national identity and invention of tradition, the impact of venue construction on a traditional cultural landscape, the ideological criticism of the I.O.C. as it emerged, dramatically, before the opening of the Games and the conflict between the Norwegians and the Greeks over the ritual status of the two flames used during the torch relay, one from Olympia and one from Morgedalin Telemark, "the cradle of skiing."Trade Review "... in the course of their detailed cultural analyses individual contributors reveal a lot of great interest ... [It] covers many important aspects of the cultural politics of the production, performance, content and reception of the event in Norway ... [and] succeeds in demonstrating the usefulness of anthropological approaches in contemporary Olympic research." · Culture, Sport & Society

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Book Synopsis Sports, and in particular the Olympic Games, are enjoying a rapid increase in interest among social scientists worldwide, who see them as important "public events." This volume offers the first analysis of the Winter Olympic Games, primarily based on the Lillehammer Games of 1994. The authors identify "olympism" as a key agent in the modernization process and, more specifically, ask how the winter games, as a mega-event, relate to Norwegian culture and ethos. The authors of these specially commissioned papers examine various aspects of this encounter, including problems such as gender as related to nature and culture, masculinity and heroism, national identity and invention of tradition, the impact of venue construction on a traditional cultural landscape, the ideological criticism of the I.O.C. as it emerged, dramatically, before the opening of the Games and the conflict between the Norwegians and the Greeks over the ritual status of the two flames used during the torch relay, one from Olympia and one from Morgedalin Telemark, "the cradle of skiing."Trade Review "... in the course of their detailed cultural analyses individual contributors reveal a lot of great interest ... [It] covers many important aspects of the cultural politics of the production, performance, content and reception of the event in Norway ... [and] succeeds in demonstrating the usefulness of anthropological approaches in contemporary Olympic research." · Culture, Sport & Society

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