Faster, higher, stronger: Sports fan activism and mediatized political play in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3983/twc.2020.1707
Keywords: 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Mediatization, Political play, Sports fans

Abstract

In an analysis of sports fans activism and theoretical approaches to understand experiences of mediatized political play, we address groups of activists who protest using fan resources and repertoires. We focus on some episodes of protests performed by casual sports fans against the then-acting Brazilian president Michel Temer during the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. We also further discuss the category of fan when applied to sports and political fandoms, considering the disputes and competition background for which they are not only fans but also rooters.

Author Biographies

Viktor Chagas, Universidade Federal Fluminense

Professor and researcher at Communication Graduate Program at Universidade Federal Fluminense, Brazil. Associated member of National Institute of Science and Technology on Digital Democracy (INCT.DD). Visiting Scholar at Universidade Federal da Bahia. PhD in History, Politics, and Cultural Assets (Getulio Vargas Foundation).

Vivian Luiz Fonseca, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro

Professor and researcher at Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Uerj). PhD in History, Politics, and Cultural Assets (Getulio Vargas Foundation).

Published
2020-03-15
Issue
Vol 32 (2020): Fandom and Politics
Section
Theory

Copyright (c) 2020 Viktor Chagas, Vivian Luiz Fonseca

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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