As we countdown to the July 26 opening of the Olympic Games in Paris, we have two Goizueta Business School experts who can discuss the Olympics, including fandom, viewership, and the economics of the Paris Games.

Professor Mike Lewis studies fandom and has spent many years tracking how sports can stay relevant and lucrative across generations.

“While the Olympics is presented as a pure sports competition, it’s actually a unique sports entertainment event that leverages underpaid athletes and national identities to create one of the foremost sports-based advertising platforms.”

His research on this year’s Olympics finds:

• Viewership skews to an older audience - with Baby Boomers showing the biggest fandom. The Games have an ongoing challenge to attract a younger audience.
• The Olympic broadcast will have to work hard to gain the attention of Gen Z and Millennials.
• Olympic fans are pretty even between genders, which is very different from typical sports fans that are more than 50% male.

Check out his latest research:

And his latest podcast on the Games:

Professor Tom Smith studies the economics of sports. He can discuss:

• The economic impact of the Games for Paris during what is usually a high tourist season.
• The economics of decisions by city leaders to repurpose current facilities, landscape and architecture for the Paris games.
• What other cities can learn from the Paris games.

Both Tom and Mike are available to speak with media about the upcoming Olympic Games - simply click on either expert's icon now to arrange an interview today.