Dr. Heather Dichter's Avatar

Dr. Heather Dichter

@hdichter.bsky.social

Associate Professor of Sport History & Sport Management πŸ“š Bidding for the 1968 Olympic Games; Soccer Diplomacy; Diplomatic Games; Berlin Sports πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ in πŸ‡¬πŸ‡§, or traveling somewhere www.dmu.ac.uk/heatherdichter

6,890 Followers  |  221 Following  |  625 Posts  |  Joined: 23.09.2023  |  1.9778

Latest posts by hdichter.bsky.social on Bluesky

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Olympians toe line between solidarity and sacrifice. Ukrainian banned over helmet the latest example Ukrainian ski racer Dmytro Shepiuk highlights the pressure athletes face when the Olympics and politics collide.

Oh hey I’m quoted in this AP article!

Olympians toe line between solidarity and sacrifice. Ukrainian banned over helmet the latest example
#olympics #sporthistory #skystorians

apnews.com/article/ukra...

12.02.2026 22:51 β€” πŸ‘ 11    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

That was a fun game to be at

12.02.2026 21:13 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The wave really takes a hit when an entire section are officials and above them are the media #olympics

12.02.2026 20:29 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

CAS appeal filed:
Heraskevych argues β€œexclusion is disproportionate, unsupported by any technical or safety violation & causes irreparable sporting harm to him.” He β€œrequests the annulment of the IBSF Jury decision” & CAS reinstate him immediately or he performs CAS-supervised official runs

12.02.2026 19:10 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
Ukraine luge team kneeling with their helmets in the air

Ukraine luge team kneeling with their helmets in the air

Team Ukraine after completing the team luge event.

12.02.2026 17:51 β€” πŸ‘ 199    πŸ” 30    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 3
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Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych out of Winter Olympics over banned helmet honoring war dead Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych is out of the Milan Cortina Games after he refused to stop wearing a banned tribute helmet.

From @bytimreynolds.bsky.social - Ukraine's Vladyslav Heraskevych out of Winter Olympics over banned helmet honoring war dead #olympics

apnews.com/article/hera...

12.02.2026 14:54 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1

Papers covered Terry Kubicka’s backflip at the US Nationals positively as it qualified him for the Olympic team but then his backflip didn’t go so well at the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics. This was before the most famous Olympic backflip by Surya Bonaly in 1998 ⛸️ #sporthistory #skystorians πŸ—ƒοΈ #olympics

09.02.2026 19:48 β€” πŸ‘ 20    πŸ” 5    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Are we going by percentage or hard numbers? Can i vote for even?

09.02.2026 11:04 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Indeed - as @orarunswild.bsky.social rightly points out, there used to be an Olympic Art competiton alongside the sport. Check out this @sportinhistory.bsky.social article to learn more! #olympics #sporthistory #skystorians πŸ—ƒοΈ

www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

08.02.2026 22:24 β€” πŸ‘ 18    πŸ” 7    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 1
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These five cities wanted to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, but they had second thoughts. How we got a β€œwidespread Games” instead. Eight cities wanted to bid for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.Β Seven submitted applications to host the Games. Four cities withdrew from the race before the final vote.

These five cities wanted to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, but they had second thoughts. How we got a "widespread Games" instead.

08.02.2026 13:21 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 2    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Snowboard-Riders campaign to save parallel giant slalom from Olympic axe With the Olympic snowboard parallel giant slalom competitions approaching on Sunday, riders are wondering whether they will be racing in the discipline's last appearance at a Winter Games as a review ...

Enjoying watching the exciting Parallel Giant Slalom snowboard event today but hearing this may be the last time it’s at the Olympics? It’s not a done deal - but will be determined after the Games end. #olympics

www.reuters.com/sports/snowb...

08.02.2026 13:31 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

They showed it shortly after it happened on the BBC. It did not look pretty with her legs seeming to bend in directiosn they shouldn’t be going

08.02.2026 11:51 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
The start of Lindsey Vonn's crash in the women's downhill final on Sunday.

The start of Lindsey Vonn's crash in the women's downhill final on Sunday.

Incredible, and revealing, shot of a tragic result for Lindsey Vonn. Jacquelyn Martin of the Associated Press captured the picture that shows how Vonn's pole made contact with the right gate at an early jump, which led to the violent crash.

08.02.2026 11:40 β€” πŸ‘ 103    πŸ” 27    πŸ’¬ 4    πŸ“Œ 7

Doesn’t seem like it. The slo-mo of the crash did not look pretty with her legs going in directions they perhaps shouldn’t.

08.02.2026 11:09 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I don’t think I have ever screamed out loud watching skiing. But did when Vonn crashed out (sorry for ruining it for North Americans just waking up)

08.02.2026 11:02 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 2    πŸ“Œ 0

I have voted absentee in PA most of my life. The first time I voted in person no one was else was in line when I got there, but by the time I got to the booth there was a massive line b/c I had to ask so many Q’s. My dad was so embarrassed having voted at that site for decades.

07.02.2026 16:25 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Individual Neutral Athletes to compete at Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games under same conditions as for Paris 2024

You might see the occasional Russian or Belorusian athlete at the 2026 Olympics but not in any team sport, & you didn’t see them march in the parade of nations since they are just neutral athletes & not repping their country #olympics

olympics.com/ioc/news/ind...

07.02.2026 15:45 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

In case you need a sport historian (who is also from PA) - here I am!

bsky.app/profile/hdic...

07.02.2026 12:15 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Is her solution watch the Olympics all day??

07.02.2026 12:09 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Excited after last night’s Opening Ceremony from Milan Cortina? Catch up on my thread of Winter Olympic fun facts & history (with some links to excellent #sporthistory scholarship too)
#skystorians πŸ—ƒοΈ #olympics

07.02.2026 09:34 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 3    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Is the multiple site parade of nations a sign of things to come?

06.02.2026 21:06 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

The top 3 medal-winning countries at the Winter Olympics are Norway πŸ‡³πŸ‡΄ USA πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ & Germany πŸ‡©πŸ‡ͺ Which country will win the most gold medals πŸ₯‡ or total medals in Milan Cortina?
Thoughts @norwayinusa.norway.no @germanyinusa.bsky.social ?

Now, time to settle in for 2 weeks of winter sport excitement! /end

06.02.2026 17:34 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
1980 Winter Olympics poster featuring Roni, raccoon mascot

1980 Winter Olympics poster featuring Roni, raccoon mascot

THREAD: Let’s talk about Roni, the outstanding raccoon mascot of the 1980 Winter Olympics …

06.02.2026 14:50 β€” πŸ‘ 583    πŸ” 143    πŸ’¬ 18    πŸ“Œ 30
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An American skier is fighting to open up the last Winter Olympic sport off limits to women U.S. Nordic combined athlete Annika Malacinski is leading the fight for gender equality at the Winter Olympics after women were excluded from the sport at the upcoming Milan Cortina Games.

I know we're having a lot of fun with the whole penis doping thing, but I wouldn't be me if I didn't point out that this should be the scandal in ski jumping that everyone is screaming about apnews.com/article/olym...

06.02.2026 15:02 β€” πŸ‘ 172    πŸ” 80    πŸ’¬ 3    πŸ“Œ 1
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Who owns Pennsylvania’s digitized history? We’re a step closer to an answer. Commonwealth Court is considering a case that could determine whether digitized historical records belong to the public or are controlled by Ancestry.com.

Who owns Pennsylvania’s digitized history? We’re a step closer to an answer #skystorians πŸ—ƒοΈ
From @inquirer.com
www.inquirer.com/news/pennsyl...

06.02.2026 17:09 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Tina & Milo | The Official Mascots of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026
YouTube video by MilanoCortina2026 Tina & Milo | The Official Mascots of the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026

All Olympic Games since the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich have had a mascot. Milan Cortina, like many recent Olympics, has two mascots: one for the Olympics (Tina) and one for the Paralympics (Milo) #olympics #sporthistory #skystorians πŸ—ƒοΈ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3tU...

06.02.2026 14:43 β€” πŸ‘ 4    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

The XXV Winter Olympics start today in Milan Cortina! This is the 4th time Italy has hosted the Olympics (1956 Cortina, 1960 in Rome, and 2006 Torino). The 2026 Games are spread across the Italian Alps to maximize existing venue use & minimize white elephant #olympics
#sporthistory #skystorians πŸ—ƒοΈ

06.02.2026 11:50 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
kimmeylemans on Instagram: "Update.View all 1,753 comments" Update.View all 1,753 comments

Beijing was the first city to host both the Summer & Winter Olympics (Munich had
previously tried). Covid-19 restrictions were incredibly tight - Belgian skeleton Kim Meylemans was sent to isolation instead of Olympic Village #olympics #sporthistory #skystorians πŸ—ƒοΈ
www.instagram.com/tv/CZeObbHBCnR

05.02.2026 19:10 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Olympic Winter Games in Non-Western Cities: State, Sport and Cultural Diplomacy in Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018 and Beijing 2022 The summer and winter Olympics share the five-ring logo. However, their social and political connotations differ. The Olympic Winter Games displays an aura of a game for the rich and powerful. A fe...

One of the biggest stories from PyeongChang was North Korea’s participation since NK didn’t compete in the 1988 Seoul Summer Games. The 2 Korean states agreed to a combined women’s ice hockey team at the 2018 Olympics. #olympics #sporthistory #skystorians πŸ—ƒοΈ
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

05.02.2026 16:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Third time lucky!? PyeongChang's bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympics–politics, policy and practice In July 2011, the International Olympic Committee awarded PyeongChang the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympics. This means that within two decades South Korea will have staged three mega sport e...

PyeongChang South Korea πŸ‡°πŸ‡· bid 3 consecutive times to host the Winter Olympics, finally winning the 2018 Games in 2011. They even apologized to Prince Albert of Monaco for listening to their proposal again on his honeymoon #olympics #sporthistory #skystorians πŸ—ƒοΈ
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

05.02.2026 10:06 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

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