Whether you’re into watching sports or playing them, international sports are entertaining to watch and even more fun to experience in person. Visiting a city during a sporting event is one of the best ways to immerse yourself in its culture and become a part of the local community, especially as an international student or intern.
International sport occurs when two or more nations compete in any sport, with the most well-known events being the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. These competitions may be held in one of the competing countries, or they may be played on neutral territory, like when England hosted South Africa at Wembley Stadium for the Rugby World Cup last fall.
An international sporting event can be governed by an international body, or it may be left to the local governing bodies of the participating athletes and clubs. For example, the Olympic Games, which originated in Ancient Greece and were revived in 1896, are governed by an international body known as the International Olympic Committee. The committee sets and enforces Olympic policies.
Other international sporting events include the FIBA World Championship (basketball), the Tour de France (cycling), Wimbledon (tennis), and the French Open (tennis). The America’s Cup is a sailing yacht competition that has been an international event since 1851.
While international sports bring a lot of money to the cities hosting them, they can also be a source of controversy. For example, a study by Linkoping University found that African football players were more likely to suffer from fatal cardiovascular events because they didn’t have the medical teams and equipment that European competitors had.