This book examines claims that the Olympic Games are a vehicle to inspire and increase mass sports participation. It focuses on the mass sport participation legacy of the most recent hosts of the summer Olympics, including Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo.

1. Introduction. 2. Atlanta 1996: celebration of a century. 3. Sydney 2000: the spirit of Australia. 4. Athens 2004: welcome home. 5. Beijing 2008: one world, one dream. 6. London 2012: inspire a generation. 7. Rio 2016: a new world. 8. Tokyo 2020(+1): united by emotion. 9. Conclusion.

Spencer Harris is Associate Professor of Sport Management at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, USA.

Mathew Dowling is Senior Lecturer in the Cambridge Centre for Sport & Exercise Sciences, at Anglia Ruskin University, UK.