As anyone who’s ever cheered on an away team can tell you, sports are a key part of culture in international cities. Whether you’re watching a local football match or an international basketball tournament, it’s an opportunity to experience a nation’s culture through its athletes and their passion for the game. But as the world’s most popular sport, professional football, has grown to become a global industry with its own governing body and broadcasting rights, it’s important to consider how these events impact the lives of people around the globe.
The first international sports competition took place during the ancient Olympic Games, when city states of Ancient Greece would travel to Olympia to compete, putting their internal struggles on hold for the duration of the event. The modern Olympic Games followed, and as travel became easier and television came into existence, international competition expanded.
However, the global clout of the game has given rise to concerns about corruption and inequality. For example, it is hard to ignore the fact that FIFA and the IOC are headquartered in Europe, where they make rules for a sport that’s dominated by European countries. Athletes from non-European nations often struggle to find a level playing field, and this can lead to them siding with authoritarian rulers whose crimes they endorse. Despite positive policies on safety and diversity, international sporting bodies can only do so much. As such, they should do more to encourage transparency in their host countries and to support whistleblowers.