Citizen media as a platform for cultural representation at the Olympic Games

Paper presented to the International Olympic Committee in my role as member of the IOC Postgraduate Grant Selection Committee

Abstract

This paper offers a reflection on the ongoing plans around London 2012 to build a community of citizen journalists who will create media content in the lead up to and around Games time. It focuses on the way that culture is infused within these plans to foreground the non-sporting dimensions of the Games. It also discusses the trajectory towards this new media community over the course of the last 10 years, identifying ways in which non-accredited media have become an increasing presence in the Olympic city and an opportunity to increase the visibility of parallel and culturally significant Olympic narratives.

Key words

Cultural Olympiad, citizen journalists, new media, non-accredited media centres, alternative Olympic narrative, London 2012

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