The Olympics, FIFA World Cup and other international sports events are global cultural phenomena that bring together nations through a shared love of sport. At its most noble level, international sports fosters friendship and exchange. However, at its most base level, the fervor that surrounds international sports can provoke violence and the desire to engage in illegal activities in order to gain an advantage over competitors. This article is intended to highlight some of the resources available for researching the many aspects of international sports and its controversies.
The Olympic Games is perhaps the best-known international sporting event. Founded in ancient Greece, the modern Olympic Games were revived in 1896 and now occur every four years. The Games are governed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Historically, athletes competing in the Olympic Games were considered amateurs. Today, however, professional athletes are commonplace. In addition, the IOC and other sports governing bodies have implemented rules to prohibit doping, hooliganism and match fixing.
Other major multi-sport events include the Asian Games, a sports event similar to the Olympics that is held every two years and limited to athletes from Asian nations; the World Baseball Classic, a tournament for national baseball teams from around the world; and the Gay Games, a sports competition open to participants regardless of their sexual orientation.
There are also many specialized sports journals. For example, International Sports Studies is one of the most prominent scholarly publications in the field of sport and its social impact. Its editorial board consists of leading scholars in the field and it publishes both theoretical and empirical papers. It is edited and published by the Institute for Research on Sport and Culture, University of Gothenburg.