The geopoliticisation of sport
Sport has become obsessed with geopolitics, but what is it and why does it matter?
These days, no matter which way you turn in sport, it’s highly likely that you will be faced with a geopolitical issue.
Turn one way and you will see state investors from natural resource rich countries acquiring sport assets that help them diversify their economies.
Turn another way countries across Europe are using sport to enhance their attractiveness and project soft power.
Geopolitics is impacting upon how sport is governed, where events are staged, and even what sport clothing and fashion styles are sold via retail channels.
Geopolitics is a field of study that examines the influence of geography on politics and international relations.
It explores how factors like a country's location, terrain, natural resources, climate, and demographics affect its power, foreign policy, and relationships with other nations.
A book by Colin Flint provides a good introduction to the subject.
Robert Saunders considers geopolitics in the context of contemporary and popular culture.
In essence, geopolitics involves three things.
Firstly, establishing how geographical features shape political outcomes.
For example, access to a coastline or strategic waterways can significantly impact a nation's trade, power, and influence.
Similarly, the presence of valuable natural resources can lead to economic strength or become a source of conflict.
The importance of the Strait of Hormuz for sport highlights this.
Secondly, understanding the struggle for control over geographical entities.
This includes competition for territory, resources, strategic locations (like choke points or canals), and even control over global networks (economic, communication, etc.).
China’s policy of stadium diplomacy in Africa illustrates this.
Thirdly, explaining the interplay of power.
Geopolitics analyses how different actors – states, international organisations, even non-state actors like businesses or terrorist groups – use their political, economic, and military power to achieve their goals within a geographically defined context.
Britain’s use of football to project soft power is a good example of this.
Overall, the core of geopolitics remains the link between "geo" (earth/geography) and "politics."
It helps us understand why countries make certain decisions, form alliances, or engage in competition on the global stage.
So, whether it’s Gianni Infantino’s courting of Donald Trump, Rwanda’s plans to host an F1 Grand Prix, or an influx of celebrity investors into sport, they are all a matter of geopolitics.