Political communication in Olympic-related bills of congress: A critical discourse analysis

This paper examines Olympic-related bills in the U.S. Congress over the past five decades using critical discourse analysis (CDA). By integrating text mining with the discourse-historical approach (DHA), the study identifies the characteristics, themes, and strategies employed by policymakers to construct the Olympics within political discourse from 1973 to 2022. The results reveal that the Olympics are portrayed as a multifaceted instrument with the potential to advance legislative agendas, promote national identity, and serve as a venue for ideological and power struggles. Furthermore, the discourse has shifted from direct confrontation to more normative and moderate expressions. These findings provide valuable insights into the interplay between sports and political communication, contributing to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics underlying the Olympics.