Program Highlights

Program Dates

May 15 – June 12, 2027

Faculty Director

Jonathan Weiler, UNC’s Department of Global Studies

Program Highlights

Students on this summer program will examine London’s three Olympic Games (1908, 1948, and 2012), as well as the Paralympic Games and their predecessor, the Stoke-Mandeville Games, to explore the historical, social, cultural, economic, and political impacts of major sporting events. Using London as a case study, students will consider the legacies of hosting the Games, including their effects on local communities, urban development, accessibility, and economic inequality, while examining broader questions about sport, nationalism, and global interconnectedness.

Through site visits, historical tours, archival research, and conversations with local experts and policymakers, students will explore how sport both reflects and shapes social norms, cultural identities, and political priorities. Planned activities include a tour of Wembley Stadium, a visit to the British Olympic Association archive, a sports walking tour of Cambridge, and an accessibility walking tour of London examining the legacy of the 2012 Paralympic Games. Students will also visit Stratford, Newham, and other areas affected by redevelopment and slum clearance in preparation for the 2012 Olympics, meet with Members of Parliament advocating for disability rights and the Paralympics, and experience the traditional Cotswold Olimpick Games and the historic Wimbledon grounds. Throughout the program, students will critically evaluate the arguments and evidence surrounding major sporting events, considering who benefits and who bears the costs, both on and off the field.