International sports refers to sports competitions where participants represent more than one country. This phenomenon became more widespread as international travel grew and sport started to become globalised. The first international cricket match took place in 1882, followed by the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 and the inaugural FIFA World Cup in 1904.
Currently, international sport has considerable financial clout, with an estimated $1 trillion annual turnover. This enables it to attract major sponsorships and boost brands. In fact, it has a greater economic impact than some countries’ GDPs.
International sport is governed by a series of organisations, including the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the International Boxing Organisation (AIBA). These are all headquartered in Europe. These bodies make the rules and set standards for sporting events around the world. They also promote democracy and transparency in sport.
However, while they may have good intentions, these organisations cannot prevent governments from criminalising their athletes or obstructing investigations into serious allegations of abuse. Athletes from authoritarian regimes can be subjected to death threats, torture and prison sentences simply for representing their country.
Whether you are an athlete or not, the issue of inequality in sport is a big concern. As an example, a study in Mali found that basketball players were more likely to suffer from fatal heart attacks than their Western counterparts because the national federation lacked the resources to help them with medical treatment. This inequality was brought to light at an international conference in Trondheim, Norway this month organised by Play the Game, an initiative that aims to raise ethical standards in world sport.