Gold medal reads

It's Winter Olympics time and Canada is poised to lead the world at the top of the medal standings. Many people who watch live sports events like the Olympics also have a "second screen" experience -- meaning they read about the event on their phone, tablet or computer while they're watching the competition. So if you're one of those two-screen people, we've got 10 great reads about the Olympics for your weekend pleasure.

Enjoy, and we'll be back in your Inbox on Monday.

Scott White

Editor

Weekend Olympic Reads

Music of champions: How CBC and NBC Olympic themes shape our differences

Kip Pegley, Queen's University, Ontario

CBC and NBC's theme music that fills our ears before and after commercials and quietly accompanies intimate athlete profiles can actually have an impact on the way we view sports.

Do the Olympics still matter?

Bruce Kidd, University of Toronto

The Olympics have been plagued by doping, corruption and political problems. But academic and former Olympian Bruce Kidd says the Olympic Games are still an important humanitarian movement.

Player or pawn? Women's hockey, the Olympics and the Korean dynamic

Julie Stevens, Brock University

The joint South Korean-North Korean women's Olympic hockey team has angered fans of the game and raised concerns about athlete morale. But the media spotlight is actually good for the game.

Despite good intentions, the Olympics has its limits in promoting peace

Keith Rathbone, Macquarie University

History shows Olympic Games have only very limited ability to promote peace between warring nations.

Would the founder of the Olympics approve of the Games today?

Peter J. Miller, University of Winnipeg

As the Olympics get underway, what would the man who founded the modern Olympic movement think? Pierre de Coubertin's vision of the Olympics as a tool of peace and faith in youth still resonates.

Will the Olympics' green makeover have lasting effects?

Warren Mabee, Queen's University, Ontario

The Olympic Games are an ideal venue to showcase new ideas to world. In a world where reducing carbon emissions is a priority, could the Olympics be doing more?

Russian Olympic doping saga shows need for a radically different approach

Jack Anderson, University of Melbourne

Doping scandals have dominated the build-up to the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

Winter Olympics: why it's wrong that Russian athletes are guilty until proven innocent

Vassil Girginov, Brunel University London

The politics of Russia's Olympic doping ban.

How freestyle skiers and snowboarders learn to pace their fear

Dave Collins, University of Central Lancashire

Flirting with danger with each trick, freeskiers and snowboarders must learn to manage the emotions of such a daredevil sport.

How the Winter Olympics expanded – and brought growing pains with them

Heather Dichter, De Montfort University

The long winter Olympic journey from Chamonix in 1924 to PyeongChang in 2018.