I'm delighted to be giving a keynote at this @BritishLibrary event on 5th Nov. It's especially nice to focus on Rio 2016, just after the London 2012 Games, and to speak to a broad brief , rather than just one topic. Social change is certainly one thing any host city can take for granted in their hosting process. The challenge is to ensure positive social change happens and this is a much disputed outcome of the Olympics, no matter how many medals a home team wins.
In the mean time, here's the programme:
From London to Rio: Social Change and the Sporting Mega-event
9-9.30
Registration/Coffee
9.30-9.45
Welcome and Introduction to the Conference Jude England, The British Library
9.45-10.15
Keynote Lecture Prof. Kenneth Maxwell, Harvard University
10.15-11.15
Panel: Politics and Security Are the games a means to implement government policies? Will the events become focal points for international and local political conflicts? Do the events serve as a catalyst for developments in cyber security and surveillance?
Speakers:
Dr. Timothy Power, Oxford University
Dr. Jeff Garmany, King’s College London
Gabriel Silvestre, University College London
Chair: TBD
11.15-11.30
Coffee Break
11.30-12.30
Panel: Economic Impact What impact do these events have on economic development and growth? What is the impact of these events on employment and labour unions? What is the impact of these events on small business and the informal market? How is the housing stock and housing market effected by such events?
Speakers:
Prof. Jane Wills, Queen Mary, University of London Dr. Mike Raco, University College London Prof. Tom Cannon, University of Liverpool
Chair: TBD
12.30-13.15 Lunch Break
13.15-14.00
Mid-day key note lecture: Prof. Andy Miah, University of the West of Scotland
14.00-15.00
Panel: Sustainability: Social and Environmental Will the games improve most people’s quality of life? What kind of long term infrastructure developments will happen? How will renewable energies and design be incorporated into these events? Speakers: Dr. Stephen Essex, Plymouth University
Dr. Russell Seymour, Sustainability Manager for Marylebone Cricket Club
Chair: Dr. Alvaro Comin, King’s College London
15.00-15.15
Coffee Break
15.15-16.15
Race, Media and Identity What kind of racial imagery and ideology do the games reproduce/challenge? Are their different impacts of the games along racial and gender lines? What kind of coverage does the media produce about the games and why?
Speakers: Prof. João Costa Vargas, University of Texas, Austin
Prof. Renato Emerson dos Santos, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro Prof. John Horne, University of Central Lancashire
Chair: Dr. Elizabeth Cooper, The British Library
16.15-17.15
Education Will the games contribute to public health agendas? Do they further the cause of sports education/participation? Speakers: Paul Docherty, Director UK 2012, British Council
Prof. Steve Cummins, Queen Mary, University of London Luke Downdey and Marigold Ride, Fight for Peace/Luta Pela Paz
Chair: Dr. Madeleine Hatfield, Royal Geographical Society (with IGB)
17.15
Closing Remarks Jude England, The British Library
17.30
Reception