ABSTRACT
The Olympic Games represent the ultimate goal and culmination of an athletic career (Holmes and Lewis 2004). For many athletes, the Olympic dream is a longheld target in their career plans and training regimes (Fox-Pitt 2007), and may be their only opportunity to receive widespread media coverage and public recognition. Most athletes will never even reach the Games, and so for those who do it is a significant and meaningful achievement, regardless of how well they perform at the event (Staley 2008). Competing at the Olympics may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for an athlete, and consequently they will want to cherish the experience, enjoying as far as possible the unique sporting, social and cultural offerings the Games provide.
