International sports refers to any sport involving athletes from more than one country. The most notable international sporting event is the Olympics, and other major competitions include the World Cup, which occurs every four years, and the European Games, Asian Games and Pan American Games. These events can have a huge impact on the host cities and countries, both economically, and culturally.
Historically, hosting major international sporting events such as the Olympic Games or FIFA World Cup has been considered a mark of prestige for a city or nation. The Olympic Games were first held in the ancient Greek city states, where competing cities put their internal politics and warring ideologies on hold while they hosted the competition.
Hosting a big sporting event can also be a way to attract tourists and investors, which can boost a country’s economy and social infrastructure. For example, a city like Barcelona gained a reputation as a global tourist destination after hosting the Olympics in 1992, and even the smaller sized World Cup can create a huge economic impact for the host nation and city.
However, a negative aspect of international sports is the fact that it can encourage corrupt governments to further victimise their people in order to make money from their national teams, and even promote themselves through these events. As such, there is an ongoing debate as to whether or not athletes should be banned if they choose to support their corrupt government while playing for them, and it is important that sports governing bodies and other stakeholders take steps to ensure the safety of all athletes, no matter who they support on the field.