Sporting Events in China as Economic Development, National Image, and Political Ambition

This book analyzes the motivations of the Chinese authorities to pursue the international sporting events. It investigates the 21 oft-underappreciated sporting events governed by FIFA, FINA, FIBA, IAAF, and other international organizations, and linking them with the calculus of the Chinese authorities to push forwards economic development, polish national image, and realize the supreme leaders’ political ambitions. The author therefore sheds important light on the intertwined nature of sport and politics in the Chinese state and reveals how pervasive the sporting events’ roles have been in China’s domestic politics and international relations. This book’s broad scope is expected to attract the subscriptions of the academics, think tanks, diplomats, government officials, and international sporting organizations.
Marcus P. Chu is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at Lingnan University, Hong Kong.