It Is Not Our Problem: Socio-Politics at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne
It Is Not Our Problem: Socio-Politics at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne

Summary/Abstract: This research examines how the Olympic Museum in Lausanne addresses sociopolitical issues occurring at past Olympic Games in its permanent exhibitions. It provides a background on the previous Olympic political policy and the Olympic Stakeholder theory, implying the existence of a sociopolitical arena in Olympic sport, then identifies exhibits within the museum that convey overtly sociopolitical messages. Themed observational evidence taken from two separate museum visits is used to provide the basis of a claim that the museum has increased the recognition of the Olympic Games as a sociopolitical arena. Yet, an interview with the museum did not confirm this finding, as, instead, the museum sought to distance itself from both the subject matter and academic research. The conclusion offers an explanation of the museum’s actions in terms of the denial of political responsibilities and the rejection of the concept of the politics of display.

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