International sports are competitions between teams or individuals representing at least two countries. Examples include the Olympics and the FIFA World Cup. International sporting events are big business, bringing millions of spectators to host cities, and billions of dollars in revenue from ticket sales, broadcasting rights, and sponsorship agreements. They also contribute to local economies by stimulating sports tourism, encouraging grassroots initiatives, and promoting regional representation.
International sporting events bring together athletes and fans from a wide range of cultures, amplifying the global appeal of sport and its importance to society. They can help raise awareness of social issues such as climate change and the need to tackle gender inequality in sport. In addition, they can influence the political, economic, and cultural aspects of countries around the world, with some even featuring sports in their constitutions.
Generally, international sport is governed by independent non-governmental organisations known as International Federations (IFs). They are recognised by the International Olympic Committee and cooperate with it by ensuring their statutes, practices and activities comply with the Olympic Charter.
These governing bodies can have substantial influence over the selection of event hosts, and can therefore impact national policy. As such, they can play an important role in promoting good governance and ethics in the world of international sport. They should offer access to and protection for whistleblowers, and ensure that participating nations respect human rights in their regions, including workers’ rights. This is particularly crucial in addressing the issue of match-fixing, and other forms of corruption, in sport.