"The book is a brilliantly researched documentation of the history of diplomacy related to the Games ... [it] represents a timely foray into sport's relevance to political developments; especially pertinent given the current attention paid to the repercussions for host countries of hosting mega-events. It fastidiously scours the annals of communiques treated as 'discourse' originating from actors such as the ... Read moreInternational Olympic Committee, the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office and the National Olympic Committees of host countries over the last 120 years." - International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics "Beacom's text provides a sound basis for further studies discussing and developing the concept of Olympic diplomacy by way of recognition of both Olympism's major role in international society and the evolving relationship between diplomatic discourse and the Olympic Movement." - Diplomacy & Statecraft Show Less