International sports are a global industry and have a huge financial clout. They can influence politics, culture and economies around the world. The main international sports are the Olympic Games and football (soccer) World Cup events, although there is also the Universiade competition for university students and the Six Nations rugby tournament.
Hosting a major sporting event is seen as a way for cities and countries to boost their international standing. London, for example, was praised for its successful Olympics in 2012. It transformed the city’s image from an industrial port town to one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations.
In addition, it can boost a nation or city’s economy by bringing in thousands of tourists. During the 2012 Olympics, for example, visitors spent almost double what they would normally do in the city. The host country can also benefit from increased economic activity in the sport’s area, such as new stadiums or a boom in television production.
The IOC and FIFA, the organisations which make the rules for international sport, recognise that the Olympic and World Cup events should have a lasting impact on the cities which host them. They therefore include a requirement that the bidding process should involve demonstrating how the event will raise the status of the city and improve its quality of life.
These requirements can be a problem for some countries. For example, a study by Linkoping University in Sweden found that European athletes were more likely to receive medical teams and other support, while African players often struggled with poverty and poor health care.