One of the best ways to immerse yourself in a foreign culture when studying or interning abroad is to attend a local sporting event. There’s nothing quite like hearing the crowd cheer for a hometown team, and feeling that sense of unity and energy as people cheer on their local heroes.
International sports occur when athletes represent more than one country in a competitive event. The most famous example is the Olympic Games, but international competitions have taken many forms over the years.
The ancient Olympic games, held in the city-states of Ancient Greece, set a precedent for international competitions. The events were mainly athletic, but also included combat and chariot racing. The Games were a chance for the city-states to put their differences aside and come together in a spirit of peaceful competition, and the games became popular.
As travel and communication became easier, international sport expanded. The first modern Olympics were held in 1896, followed by the formation of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in 1904. The spread of television and radio further enabled the growth of international sport, with the televised FIFA World Cup becoming a major phenomenon.
Moreover, the development of the esports industry has brought international sport to an entirely new level, with competitions that have similar economic attributes to professional sports. The global market for esports is estimated to be worth between $350 billion and $600 billion, according to a 2011 A.T. Kearney report.