International sports are sporting events where the competitors represent more than one country. The most famous example is the Olympic Games, but there are many others. The first international sport was a cricket match played between the United States and Canada in 1844. As travel became easier, the internationalization of sport accelerated.
Hosting a major event like the Olympics or FIFA World Cup can boost a city’s tourism industry. It can also bring investment into a country, helping to improve local infrastructure. It can also help to reduce poverty, by bringing in money that can be spent on education and healthcare. However, there are also downsides.
The competition to host these events is fierce, and cities are required to demonstrate that they can deliver a high quality event. This can involve addressing social, environmental and economic issues. It can also require a commitment to transparency and sustainability.
One issue that has arisen is the treatment of migrant workers, especially construction labourers. Those who are not from the host country can find themselves in a vulnerable position, with some even subjected to physical or sexual abuse. While the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup have policies to protect their athletes, they can only do so much. As Zohreh Abdollahkhani of the University of South-Eastern Norway pointed out in Trondheim this month, these policies do not stop dictatorships from carrying out human rights violations. If a city or country is not willing to address these issues, then the events may be boycotted by some.