Open access
PARTICIPATION OF NEW EMERGING STATES IN INTERNATIONAL SPORT AS A MEANS OF MANIFESTING THEIR GEOPOLITICAL SUBJECTIVITY
Michał Marcin KOBIERECKI1
World Economy – Geopolitics
Publication language: Polish
Journal article
Transformations No. 1-4 (72-75) 2012, Publication date: 20 October 2012
Abstract The purpose of this article is to analyze participation in international sport as a means of achieving political goals. The research is focused on new emerging states that have been gaining independence after World War II, mostly in Asia and Africa. Their leaders’ ambition was to play an important role in the international arena, which was difficult for them due to an overall lack of power in such areas as the military or economy. In that situation sport appeared to be an easier and more convenient way for them to raise morale. New emerging states struggled for appreciation which the traditional great powers did not necessarily provide. They could easily join sport federations, but not necessarily participate in sports federations’ governing bodies’ seats. The possibility of simply participating in international sport seemed to be not enough for them. As a result they tried to oppose the traditional powers’ supremacy by protesting or even trying to implement alternative sports movements, such as theGames of New Emerging Forces (GANEFO). In the end however, all such initiatives collapsed
Zakład Teorii Polityki i Myśli Politycznej, Wydział Studiów Międzynarodowych i Politologicznych Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
E-mail: michal.kobierecki@gmail.com