International Sports Studies: What’s in a name?

As an academic field, ‘International Sports Studies’ has tended to be understood as a broad, multi-disciplinary academic field that seeks to understand sport as a complex global phenomenon. It recognises that sport is not merely a recreational activity or competitive pursuit but a cultural and social institution with far-reaching implications for individuals, communities, and nations. By adopting a global perspective, International Sports Studies examines how sport influence and are influenced by historical, cultural, economic, and political processes.