The Olympic Industry: Slow and Fast Mobilities

Abstract

This chapter argues that Olympic ceremonies are situated between slow and fast mobilities – or, national histories and the history and principles of Olympism on the one hand, and ideas of travel and tourism on the other. Tis is developed through foundational concepts in tourism theory, such as that of tórnos that allows for connections between work/labour and leisure in Olympic industries in general and ceremonies in particular. The model of the tornadóros is used to analyse how ceremonial directors and Olympic artists use various digital, audio-visual and embodied technologies to communicate with audiences. These artistic tornadóroi are compared with athletes, who are supposed to conform to special types of ‘human’ that promote the principles of Olympism.