International Sport in the Struggle for Political Cooperation

Abstract

Political signifi cance of sport is usually bound with international rivalry and confl ict. However, sport tends to have a role in fostering international dialogue and cooperation as well. Th e aim of the article is to present the most important examples of this role of international sport. Th ere is a number of examples verifying the hypothesis about consensual role of sport in international politics. Despite political signifi cance, sport is not purely a part of the world of politics. Th is situation grants sport with an advantage in possibility of establishing international cooperation. Some actions that could seem completely impossible concerning political reality, turned out to be possible in sport. Sports contacts can pave the way for a further, political agreements. For instance a number of specifi c ‘sports diplomacies’ have taken place, that were used by some countries in order to enhance their capabilities of impacting the international political system.