This unique book looks at the OlympicGames in Great Britain, where the Games willbe organised in London for the third time in2012. Part One considers the history of sportin the UK with emphasis on the roles ofRobert Dover's "Olympicks" and Dr WilliamPenny Brookes in the village of MuchWenlock as a basis for the re-birth of the Modern OlympicGames. The authors then look back at the period leading up tothe Olympic Games in London in 1908 before describing inPart Two the situation confronting Great Britain when itorganised the 1948 Games in the aftermath of World War II. Part Three compares the situation in London 1948 withLondon 2012 and notes the similar difficulties faced byorganisers, namely a financial crisis and accompanying publicdebt. It then looks at the Question of Legacy and also the roleof Sir Arthur Elvin, who, together with IOC member andPresident of the Organising Committee and Chairman of the80OLYMPIC REVIEWBOA Lord Burghley, delivered the Games (right). Part Four recalls the performance of British athletes in the1948 Games and also looks at Team GB's 2012 preparations.The book continues with a discussion in Part Five of the roleamateurism played in the Olympic Movement until the Gamesin 1948 before moving on to explain how the ParalympicGames grew out of the Stoke Mandeville Games, which wereheld for disabled servicemen and women, wounded in war.Finally, Part Six looks at the media, recalling the coverage of the 1948 Games, which illustrates how much the world haschanged: "To send a telegram to your editor, one had tocompose the message, put it in a canister and drop it from thewindow down a length of gutter pipe to a team of Boy Scoutswaiting to cycle away to the teleprinter, where it was typed.Next it went by landline from Wembley to Electra House andfrom there by Morse code to the final destination."The book ends by assessing the objectives for the 2012Games organisers and the legacy they hope to leave behind.THE 1972 MUNICHOLYMPICS AND THE MAKING OFMODERN GERMANYKay Schiller and Christopher Young;Published by University of CaliforniaPress, 2010; ISBN: 978052026213; 348 pages, in EnglishThe 1972 Olympic Games in Munich were designed toshowcase the new Germany and at the same time to helpthe world forget sad memories of the 1936 Games inBerlin. However, any such hopes were dashed when, in the early hours of 5 September, 11 members of theIsraeli team were murdered by Palestinian terrorists.Setting the Games in the context of 1972 and against thehistory of the modern Games, the authors show us thecultural and political background to the Munich Gamesand their impact on Germany as a whole. Drawing onnewly-available archive material, Kay Schiller andChristopher Young present a comprehensive account ofone of the most unforgettable events in the history ofpost-war Germany. This is a fascinating book, aimed ateveryone interested in the Olympic Games and sport in general, but also at those wishing to know more aboutGerman society and politics. THE PARALYMPICATHLETE Edited by Yves C. Vanlandewijck andWalter R. Thompson; Published by Wiley-Blackwell, 2011.ISBN: 9781444334043, 294 pages, in EnglishThis new volume in the Handbook of Sports Medicine andScience series published in conjunction with the IOCMedical Commission and the Sports Science Committee of the International Paralympic Committee examinesParalympic athletes across sports. Written by specialists,this unique reference guides readers through the sport-related issues that are unique to Paralympic athletes andprovides practical guidance on optimising care andenhancing performance. The book starts with an introduction to the ParalympicMovement, followed by discipline-specific reviews indisability sport science, each covering the biomechanics,physiology, medicine, philosophy, sociology and psychologyof Paralympic sports. The Paralympic Athlete provides, inone volume, a much-needed overview of currentknowledge and best practices for anyone who is interestedor directly involved in the care and training of Paralympicathletes.SPORT,COMMUNICATION ET SOCIALISATION Alexandre Oboeuf; Published by Archivescontemporaines, 2010; ISBN:9782813000361; 177 pages, in FrenchHow do players and officials in team sports communicate?How do footballers and handball players get through to one another? There seem to be no straightforward answersto these seemingly simple questions posed by dozens ofexperts. Do team players communicate through words?Even if they do, they can still play without speaking.Through signs? Throwing off one's marker, bursts of pace,darting runs, staying put are all signs belonging to a universal secret code, "secret" because players areoften reluctant to use it. This book aims to decipher this complex code by takinga close look at top-class football and handball. It identifies,classifies and presents examples of a whole series of motor interactions. Here, coaches will find invaluableinformation that will enable them to apply the secret codeto enhance training sessions, not only in football or handball but any team sport. This technical but accessiblebook is for all those who believe that a team is more thanthe sum of its parts. Selection proposed by the IOC Library, Olympic Studies Centre, 1, Quai d'Ouchy, P.O. Box 1001, Lausanne, Switzerland. Tel. +41 (0)21 621 66 11; Fax +41(0)21 621 67 18. Visit www.olympic.org/library to learn more about our services.BY MATT ROGAN & MARTIN ROGAN;PUBLISHED BY TROUBADOR PUBLISHINGLTD., 5 WEIR ROAD, KIBWORTHBEAUCHAMP, LEICESTER LE8 0LQ;GREAT BRITAIN; 2010 ISBN:9781848765757; PRICE: £15.99,EXCLUSIVE MAILING COSTS; 239 PAGES.REVIEWED BY ANTHONY TH. BIJKERKBRITAINANDTHEOLYMPICGAMES PAST - PRESENT - LEGACY

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