Sport and Development in Emerging Nations

For the first time, this book examines the strategies of leaders of emerging nations to use sport as a tool for reaching social, economic, cultural, political, technological or environmental goals and gaining international prestige. It assesses whether sport can really be an effective tool in international development.

The book explores the unique challenges, issues and opportunities offered by sport for development in emerging nations. Bringing together case studies of sport and development in countries including Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, Qatar, South Africa, South Korea and Turkey, the book looks at policies designed to achieve development through, by and for sport, and whether they have achieved their socio-economic objectives. It considers the way that emerging nations have used major international sports events as political and developmental projects, as well as the importance of sporting infrastructure, professional leagues, participation programmes and the influence of nationalism and ideology.

With a truly global perspective, this book is important reading for any student, researcher or policy-maker with interest in sport management, sport development, development studies, international economics, globalisation or political science.

Cem Tinaz is Director of the School of Sports Sciences and Technology at Istanbul Bilgi University, Turkey. He is also an esteemed board member and Vice President of the Turkish Tennis Federation. Dr. Tinaz’s research interests include sport policy and development, administration, legacies and impacts of sport mega-events – all integrated with his primary area of expertise in sport management. He was awarded a 2016/2017 Advanced Olympic Research Grant by the IOC Olympic Studies Centre for the project “Examining Positive Outcomes of Unsuccessful Olympic Bids”.

Brendon Knott is Associate Professor in the Sport Management Department at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, South Africa. His primary research interests include sport marketing, sport tourism and mega-event studies. He serves as Associate Editor for the Journal of Leisure Research and on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Destination Marketing and Management. He has a passion for sport and its impact on society, especially in emerging nations.