International Sports Questions - Coursework Example

INTERNATIONAL SPORTS Introduction Since several centuries, international sports has continued to grow and develop, starting from the ancient Olympics contested between city states. Since 1896, after a rebirth of the Olympics, modern technology has facilitated the spread of the Olympic movement to over two hundred countries. International sport competitions between different countries and regions helps to identify premier sports persons and teams on a global basis1. Further, sport provides a universal platform where diverse cultures come together, and endeavour to achieve a common goal. Popular sporting events create a space where conventional status barriers are transcended towards a shared experience of sport. With the growth of the Olympic games, “professional sport leagues and corporations have seized the opportunity to sell their products in international markets”2. The three questions related to international sports are answered below. Answer.1. When bidding to host an international sporting event, there is the possibility of revenue not meeting expenses. A local group may prefer to have the city’s money spent on social programs. Under such circumstances, it would be necessary to inform dissenters about the benefits to the region in hosting an international sporting event. The response to the local group has to effectively highlight all the potential advantages and benefits, in order to obtain their cooperation for hosting the sports event. International sports fuel a feeling of pride in one’s country termed as nationalism3, and a sense of unity among countrymen. Further, due to the international exposure through media attention that sports attracts, sport is sometimes used as a platform for political and social protests. For example, in the struggle against the practice of Apartheid, the Stop the Seventies Tour Committee (STSTC) established in 1970, undertook mass demonstrations and disruptions “when the white South African cricket and rugby union teams toured the United Kingdom”4 Successfully hosting the international sports event, with increased visitors to the region, would extensively raise business opportunities in all areas primarily the hospitality and tourism industry. Maximising and proactively capitalising on the opportunities is essential, and the benefits of the games will be felt across the whole country, irrespective of the actual city selected for the event. With businesses bidding for contracts related to the administration and carrying out of the event, a rise in productivity and employment gains would result, with consequent contributions to the regional economy5. Besides economic regeneration, the city’s hosting of international sports would catalyse social regeneration through positive developments in the region. Refurbishment and renovations of public spaces, enhancement of national resources and cultural heritage, improvement of infrastructure, enhancement of structures and creation of additional lodging spaces, the construction of new sports facilities, and development of a sports village for hosting the large numbers of sportspersons to the city, would aid social regeneration6 and development of urban communities. The country’s profile and image will be significantly raised in the global context, with global media attention focused on the region and its role in hosting the event. Answer. 2. For soliciting support for a continental multi-event competition, it would be necessary to carefully plan the procedure, and determine the groups that would be included. Though continental games are not a part of Olympic games, they are related events because they are organized by the continental association of National Organizing Committees (NOCs). Events such as the continental European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) are held one year before the Olympic games, and they “represent qualifying opportunities for athletes and a chance for NOCS to assess their elite sporting performance strengths”7. Examples of continental games committees are the Olympic Council of Asia, the European Olympic Committees, the Pan American Sports Organization, the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, and others8. The structures of the organizing committees of the continental games resemble those of the Olympic games, and similar involvement of the local government occurs in constituting the committees. The legal model chosen for the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) was the Jaca 2007 Foundation, which was determined by the prevailing Spanish law which is used for the constition of foundations. The Jaca 2007 Foundation was formed in 2004, and its main objectives were as follows: Supporting the enhancement of the organizational capacity and the development of human resources in relation to winter sports activities and competitions in Jaca and in the Province of Huesca as a whole. Also, promotion and development of all required activities including promotional efforts, planning technical studies, finding sponsors, drawing up proposals, and other work, for organizing the EYOF 2007 in Jaca9. The main groups and patrons that constituted the Jaca 2007 Foundation included “The Spanish Olympic Committee represented by its President; The Aragonese government represented by the Councillor for Education, Culture and Sports; and the Superior Council of Sports, represented by the Secretary General for Sports”10. Further bodies are the Huesca County Council represented by its President, and the Town Hall of Jaca represented by the Mayor who is the Acting President of the Foundation for European Youth Olympic Festival 2007. An organizing committee responsible for the practical organization of the EYOF formed the heart of the Foundation. This organization committee integrated all organizational activities and worked with the help of a technical office that was in charge of the general organization plan and for supervising its progress. According to the procedure established in the plan, the organization chart changed according to the number of personnel contributing to the progress of the project. Another example is the Organizing Committtee of the XV Pan-American Games in Rio in 2007 termed as CO-RIO. This committee was a non-government, non-profit body, operating under the direction of the Brazilian Olympic Committee (BOC), and with the participation of representatives of Rio de Janeiro’s City Hall, the state government, and the Brazilian Federal Government. With a limited term of duration, the committee was structured on the lines of a Specific Purpose Society. Thus, continental games involve careful planning and procedural work carried out by specific groups or committees. Answer.3. The method by which Americans dealt with China with respect to the defection of tennis player Hu Na from the People’s Republic of China is explained as follows. As a promising, bright young tennis star, her reason for defection is not clear. America’s decision to grant political asylum to the tennis player involved numerous agencies. President Reagan was advised from various quarters that the decision may harm Sino-U.S. relations at least temporarily. However, the pressure imposed by conservative supporters of the President caused him to overrule advice against the decision11. The above example reveals the bureaucratic interplay that has always been characteristic of the American approach. America applies the “rational actor” approach when dealing with the Chinese, but on the other hand when viewing oneself, the country adopts the “bureaucratic politics” perspective. Significantly, nearly all the government agencies invoke the “rational actor” approach in presenting their case, such as officials in the State Department who argue that a decision to sell particular arms to Taiwan is detrimental to the United States. However, others in the Congress argued that arms sales to Taiwan are necessary to promote U.S. credibility in the region, and consequently favorable to the overall balance of power12. It is clear that professional tennis has become very important across the globe in political as well as economic terms. Those in the highest levels of political positions are involved in decisions relating to sports and diplomacy. The U.S. granting asylum to the tennis player Hu Na from the People’s Republic of China, led to a deterioration in U.S.-Sino relations. The professional tennis system, its management, and the amount of finances involved makes the economic significance of tennis very clear13. Conclusion This paper has answered questions on the benefits of hosting an international sporting event, the procedure and groups involved in soliciting support for a continental multi-event competition, and how the Americans dealt with China on the defection of tennis player Hu Na from the People’s Republic of China. The evidence indicates that by hosting international games, there is economic and social regeneration of the host region, increased visibility and enhanced image of the community, and the fuelling of social and environmental development, along with several other benefits. Continental sports meets crucially pave the way for international sports such as the Olympic games. References Andreff, Wladimir and Szymansk, Stefan. Handbook on the economics of sport. The United States of America: Edward Elgar Publishing, 2006. Dyer, Ellie. “The debate: Will the 2012 Olympics be good for Liverpool?” Ellie Dyer asks what effect the Olympics will have on the region. Daily Post, 12 July 2005, p.18. Fairley, Sheranne and Lizandra, Mirela. International Sport. In Masteralexis, Mary H., Barr, Carol A. and Hums, Mary A. (Eds). Principles and practice of sport manage- Ment. Edition 4. Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2011. Gratton, Chris and Henry, Ian. Sport in the city: The role of sport in economic and social regeneration. New York: Routledge, 2001. Heaton, William R. “America and China: The coming decade”. Air University Review, Jan-Feb 1984. (2 September, 2011). Theodoraki, Eleni. Olympic event organization. New York: Routledge, 2007. Thoma, James E. and Chalip, Laurence H. Sport governance in the global community. The United States of America: Fitness Information Technology, 2005. Read More