Jules Boykoff

Jules Boykoff is a professor of political science at Pacific University in Oregon and the author of six books on the Olympic Games, most recently What Are the Olympics For?

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass receives the Olympic flag during the closing ceremonies of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Saint-Denis on August 11, 2024.

Stopping Trump From Using the LA Olympics to Burnish His Strongman Image Stopping Trump From Using the LA Olympics to Burnish His Strongman Image

Activists, community leaders, and organizers are already teaming up to prevent LA28 from becoming an echo of the 1936 Nazi Olympics.

Dec 3, 2024 / Jules Boykoff and Dave Zirin

A sea of Palestinian flags waved by fans in the stands of the UEFA Champions League football match between Borussia Dortmund and Celtic in Dortmund, western Germany on October 1, 2024.

In a Glaring Double Standard, FIFA Fails to Suspend Israel In a Glaring Double Standard, FIFA Fails to Suspend Israel

FIFA banned apartheid South Africa. It banned Russia for invading Ukraine. But about Israel, FIFA does nothing.

Oct 7, 2024 / Jules Boykoff and Dave Zirin

Fireworks illuminate the sky at the end of the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Stade de France on August 12, 2024, in Paris, France.

What Was the Paris Olympics? What Was the Paris Olympics?

The Olympic Games supercharge the problems that already exist in a host city. We saw that in Paris—but what will happen in LA?

Aug 15, 2024 / Jules Boykoff and Dave Zirin

Jibril Rajoub, head of the Palestine Olympic committee, sits for an interview in Paris on July 27, 2024.

The Man Using Sports to Fight Israeli War Crimes The Man Using Sports to Fight Israeli War Crimes

Jibril Rajoub, the head of the Palestine Olympic Committee, says sports can be a nonviolent tool to resist occupation.

Aug 13, 2024 / Dave Zirin and Jules Boykoff

A women seated during the installation of an encampment at the Bastille to demand accommodation for homeless people in Paris on August 6, 2024.

The Paris Olympics Has Launched a War on the Poor The Paris Olympics Has Launched a War on the Poor

Paris will almost certainly be remembered as a successful Olympic site. Such recollections, however, will leave out those who suffered under its weight.

Aug 9, 2024 / Jules Boykoff and Dave Zirin

Imane Khelif of Algeria celebrates victory against Anna Luca Hamori of Hungary in the Olympic women's quarterfinal 66kg boxing match on August 3, 2024, in Paris.

We Must Defend Imane Khelif We Must Defend Imane Khelif

Transphobia also hurts cisgender women like the Algerian boxer Imane Khelif who don’t conform to a narrow, Eurocentric vision of womanhood.

Aug 5, 2024 / Jules Boykoff and Dave Zirin

Fadi Deeb near his house in Gaza City, on April 6, 2016.

Meet Fadi Deeb: Gaza’s Paralympian Is Showing the World That Palestine Still Lives Meet Fadi Deeb: Gaza’s Paralympian Is Showing the World That Palestine Still Lives

The shot-putter is the only competitor in the Palestinian Olympic delegation from Gaza.

Aug 2, 2024 / Dave Zirin and Jules Boykoff

A CCTV surveillance camera watches the Olympic crowds with a statue of the Grand Palais Olympic site in the background in Paris on July 22, 2024.

The Olympics Have Turned Paris Into a Panopticon The Olympics Have Turned Paris Into a Panopticon

The omnipresent high-tech surveillance introduced for the Games normalizes incursions on civil liberties.

Jul 31, 2024 / Jules Boykoff and Dave Zirin

The Eiffel Tower can be seen behind the Seine. The men’s triathlon at the Olympic Games in Paris has been postponed due to dirty water in the river.

The Toll of the Olympics on the Environment The Toll of the Olympics on the Environment

Paris promised a green Olympic Games, but is that even possible?

Jul 30, 2024 / Jules Boykoff and Dave Zirin

Fans hold a banner reading

Israel’s Olympic Presence Helps Legitimize War Crimes Israel’s Olympic Presence Helps Legitimize War Crimes

Paraguay’s men’s soccer team defeated Israel—but Israel wins just by being allowed to compete.

Jul 29, 2024 / Dave Zirin and Jules Boykoff

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