The 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing: an analysis of the sports mega events as an instrument of chinese soft powerThe 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing: an analysis of the sports mega events as an instrument of chinese soft power

• Grant number: 15/24945-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2016
• End date: February 28, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Political Science - International Politics
• Principal Investigator: Cristina Soreanu Pecequilo
• Grantee: Melissa Pedroso Moura
• Host Institution: Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Osasco. Osasco , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In the Post-Cold War World, one of the main motivations of Chinese diplomacy is to present itself as a responsible, friendly and peaceful power. In this sense, sport is one of the most efficient tools of soft power. Therefore, the chance to hold the biggest sports event in the world presents itself as an unique source of opportunity to any country that would like to exercise its soft power on the sports field. This research, therefore, aims to analyse the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games as a tool of Chinese soft power in a moment whereas this emerging nation aims to project is soft power globally. In order to show that sports can be an arena of international relations as well, the study will explore the political dimmension of sports. In addition, it will aim to identify the profile of China s international relations in the 21st century. Also, the research will identify the positive and negative aspects of this Chinese experience in exploring a sports megaevent as a means to exercise its soft power. Moreover, it will try to understand how this Asian power can be seen as an example to other nations of the global South that can see sports as means to enhance its own growth.