Article

Abstract

Most of the research on the sociocultural content presented by Olympic hosts centers on single-point analyses of events. Whereas longitudinal analyses have been used to evaluate changes in audiences’ reception and the media portrayal of the content brought by the Olympic Games, few studies have focused on the comparative study of Olympic traditions, promotional materials, and artifacts. Notwithstanding its limited use to date, Longitudinal Olympic Research (LOR) is a valuable tool for comparing different societies and historical periods, being particularly relevant in the assessment of long-term social trends and understanding the role the present plays in the representation of the past. This research note discusses LOR’s use to date and suggests possible new avenues for future research, as well as its risks and limitations.