Active Citizens and Public Policy: The Example of London 2012 Olympic Games

The author argues how Olympism, the ideology underpinning the Olympic Games, when linked with youth can generate what Foucault called ‘technologies of power’. This article first discusses the increasing rate of governmental interest for sport and the “active citizen”, children and young people. In this light several interventions and policies across the western societies such as the United Kingdom, United States and Canada are examined. The author then argues how the youth agenda for the Olympic Games can also be seen alongside this neo-liberal increased interest for active citizenry.