The Olympics have been plagued by doping, corruption and political problems. But academic and former Olympian Bruce Kidd says the Olympic Games are still an important humanitarian movement.
North Korean cheerleaders holding the unified Korea flag during the Summer Universiade 2003 in South Korea.
EPA-EFE/YONHAP SOUTH KOREA OUT
A delicate truce between North and South Korea has been reached in the run up to the Winter Olympics. It’s a high profile win for an event which is struggling to remain relevant.
The US sprinter, twice banned after failed drug tests, felt the force of public opinion as he won the 100 metres final at the World Athletics Championship. But is it time to start trusting athletes?
Extensive drug use was reported at the 1952 Helsinki Games, but it was the death of two athletes that finally galvanized international sporting authorities into taking action against doping.
Kenyan-born Ruth Jebet, just 19, waves the Bahraini flag after winning gold over Kenyan competitors at the Rio Olympics.
Reuters/Dominic Ebenbichler
Kenya’s international success in track and field hides management inefficiencies and corruption that have frustrated athletes and fed a pipeline of runners willing to ditch the national flag
Jim Thorpe and Ben Johnson were both banned from the Olympics. But if each had played at different points in history, they would have been allowed to compete.
Nick Lehr/The Conversation
Visiting Professor in Biomedical Ethics, Murdoch Children's Research Institute; Distinguished Visiting Professor in Law, University of Melbourne; Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics, University of Oxford