Researcher ORCID Identifier

0009-0008-2358-9088

Graduation Year

2026

Date of Submission

12-2026

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

International Relations

Reader 1

Minxin Pei

Rights Information

2026 Riley A Capuano

Abstract

The Olympic games are known as a celebration of peace and cooperation united through sporting events. They pull in billions of viewers through media attention and high rates of televisation around the world. However, this thesis argues that the Olympics are one of the most politicized events in the international system, because they serve as a platform for hosts to project a carefully chosen image to enhance their international status, legitimacy, and soft power.

The decision to host is two-sided, as the media attention brings not only a stage for showcasing economic growth and cultural aspects of society, but international scrutiny on domestic issues such as human rights, civil repression, and environmental problems. This risk raises a key question: Why do states, including less developed or states in rehabilitation periods, insist on financing the excessive costs of hosting knowing the potential for negative outcomes?

To answer this, the thesis evaluates three pivotal Olympic Games with varying regime types, motivations, and outcomes: the 1980 Moscow Games, the 1988 Seoul Games, and the 2008 Beijing Games.

The 1980 Moscow Games aimed to show off the supremacy of the socialist model during the Cold War but ended up in failure, isolation, and later depreciation of the socialist system following a major Western-led boycott. The 1988 Seoul Games successfully demonstrated South Korea's transition to democracy and recent rapid economic growth, generating legitimacy for the new regime and allowing for global integration. The 2008 Beijing Games were successful in boosting domestic pride and trust in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and projecting economic power externally, yet it also drew international scrutiny over civil repression and human rights abuses. This research places the political motivations behind hosting the Olympics within the context of international relations theories, and dives into the famous Olympic Games in Moscow, Seoul, and Beijing.

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This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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