Hidden costs of the Olympics: preparation, politics and control

International sporting events, such as the Olympics, are often recognized as opportunities to renew infrastructure and boost economies, while the potential to harm marginalized communities through legislative action is underscored. This legislative trend will be explored utilizing an integrated approach incorporating Marxism, Garland’s Culture of Control and Black’s Behavior of Law, suggesting that the implementation of law serves specific interests, namely those with an economic interest in the Games and city officials. This thesis concentrates on the law implemented and/or enforced in two past host cities, Atlanta and Sydney, and the current situation in Vancouver. The focus will rest on how and why increasingly punitive policy and enforcement protocols are implemented in the lead-up to the Olympics, and how such legislation works to the detriment of the homeless who are often subject to the law with little recourse.