UofSC faculty experts list on the Summer Olympics
Posted on: June 25, 2021; Updated on: June 25, 2021
By Tenell Felder, tenell@mailbox.sc.edu
Japan will host the Summer Olympic Games July 23 to Aug. 8. Though the Olympics will
be taking place in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they will continue to be officially
branded as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. To help journalists report on the Tokyo games,
the University of South Carolina has compiled a list of faculty experts. To arrange
an interview, contact the staff member listed with the entry.
Fitness and athletic training
Shawn Arent, exercise science professor in the Arnold School of Public Health, can
give insight into what it takes to train as an Olympian. Arent has worked with high-level
college, professional, and Olympic athletes and has done extensive research focusing
on optimizing training and recovery. He also has done considerable research on female
athletes (training, nutrition, stress) and notable research with biomarkers as indicators
of training status, stress, and nutritional status.
News contact: Erin Bluvas, bluvase@mailbox.sc.edu.
Japanese culture and tourism
Nick Watanabe, professor in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management and a former
resident of Japan, can offer perspective on the host country. Watanabe's research
interests include social media trends, sports economics, international sports and
big data analysis.
News contact: Allen Wallace, awallace@sc.edu, 803-777-5667.
Shunko Muroya, a Japanese instructor, is available to answer questions about Japanese culture and
customs and other aspects of the host country that will be on display during the Olympics.
In addition to teaching Japanese at UofSC, Muroya directed a Japanese Language Program
in Rome for the Japan Foundation for three years.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu, 803-576-7650.
Athlete activism and celebrity culture
Mathieu Deflem, a sociology professor, has studied celebrity activism for a decade, including how
athletes and other celebrities can leverage the power of fame not only to play a role
in social movements but also to enhance their status. The International Olympic Committee
recently relaxed its rule banning political demonstrations at the games. While athletes
still are not allowed to engage in any form of protest during medal ceremonies, they
are allowed to "express their views" more freely in interviews, news conferences and
social media. Deflem also researches celebrity culture in Japan, including the activism of tennis
start Naomi Osaka.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu, 803-576-7650.
Legal, business and media issues
John Grady, associate professor and sport and entertainment undergraduate director in the College
of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, is available to discuss legal and business
issues surrounding the games, notably ambush marketing and the controversial Rule
40 that restricts how Olympic athletes can be used in sponsorships. He also can discuss
the increasing role of social media and streaming the games’ content, as well as how
Olympic audiences have shifted to online and TV viewing over on-site attendance.
News contact: Allen Wallace, awallace@sc.edu, 803-777-5667
Kevin Hull, an associate professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, can discuss
media coverage of the games, particularly how NBC shows them. A former sportscaster,
Hull leads the journalism school’s sports media initiative. His research primarily
focuses on local sports broadcasters throughout the United States.
News contact: Rebekah Friedman, 803-576-7270, rebekahb@mailbox.sc.edu.
History, politics and security
Brian Mihalik, professor in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, has been examining
the Olympic Games since the IOC announced in 1989 that the 1996 Summer Games would
be held in Atlanta. His research includes a wide range of topics from Olympic history
to political issues surrounding the Games. He recently taught a class on Winter Olympics
marketing at Beijing Sport University in China.
News contact: Allen Wallace, awallace@sc.edu, 803-777-5667.
Mathieu Deflem, a sociology professor, can speak broadly about surveillance and security in relation
to his work on counterterrorism and vulnerability of high-profile events, including
athletes’ response and concerns about security measures as well as safety measures
to prevent spread of the virus.
News contact: Bryan Gentry, brgentry@sc.edu, 803-576-7650.
Charles Bierbauer, a former national news correspondent and dean emeritus of the College of Information
and Communications, covered the Olympics in 1972, 1980, 1984 and 1996. Bierbauer can
discuss security and the politics that often surround the games as well as offer his
personal reflections. Bierbauer covered the 1972 Munich games for Westinghouse Radio
and can discuss Black September and Israeli team tragedy. In 1980 he covered the buildup
and preparation for the Moscow games as ABC’s Moscow bureau chief, and in 1984 he
went to the Los Angeles games with President Reagan as CNN’s White House correspondent,
where he covered the Soviet Union’s boycott of the games. In 1996 he anchored CNN’s
coverage of the bombing at the Atlanta games from Washington.
News contact: Rebekah Friedman, 803-576-7270, rebekahb@mailbox.sc.edu.
Follow the money
Mark Nagel, professor in the College of Hospitality, Retail and Sport Management, is an expert
on sport finance and revenue development, facility management and management practices
of sport organizations. He can offer insights on the financial ramifications of hosting
the Olympics.
News contact: Allen Wallace, awallace@sc.edu, 803-777-5667.
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