International sports are competitions between teams from different nations. The term is often used to refer to the Olympic Games or other world championships, but it also applies to any sport that has a professional league or competition in more than one country.
International sporting events can be a powerful vehicle for social change. They can promote positive values and contribute to the United Nations’ objectives for development and peace. However, it is important to remember that the power of sport can be abused by corrupt governments and private entities.
As the world’s most popular sport, football (or soccer) has a unique ability to unite people from all corners of the globe. No other competition stirs national pride as much as the FIFA World Cup, held every four years. But the tournament has its critics. The governing body of the game, FIFA, has been accused of favouring wealthy business interests at the expense of local communities. The organisation has been condemned for trying to prevent a government in South Africa from upgrading its existing soccer stadium in a working-class neighborhood, which would have reduced inequality.
The Association of International Sports Press (AIPS) is the world’s leading professional sports journalism organisation, with a global membership of 161 National Sports Journalist Associations across its four continental sections: Africa, Americas, Asia and Europe. The AIPS strives to promote the highest standards in sports journalism and to provide opportunities for journalists from all over the world to develop their talents and skills.
