Sporting events have the power to bring people together. Attending a sporting event in another country can be one of the most exciting and unique experiences you can have while traveling. Not only do you get to see your favorite team play, but you can also learn more about the culture of the host country. Whether you are an avid sports fan or just visiting, attending a local game in a new country is sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
When a country is chosen to host a major international sporting event, such as the Olympics or World Cup, it has a significant opportunity to improve its global reputation. This is known as sports diplomacy. States seek to leverage sports events to achieve specific foreign policy goals, such as promoting tourism, encouraging investment and strengthening relations with other countries.
The high-profile nature of these events provides a unique platform for public engagement and the opportunity to build lasting international relationships. While the majority of research on the subject of sports diplomacy focuses on state-level objectives and how these events can serve foreign policy goals, there is an important gap in research about how sporting events can be leveraged for community impact in post-conflict settings.
We present an exploratory study of residents’ perceptions and experiences of a recurring, international sport event in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, which has experienced some post-conflict challenges. Drawing on a combination of survey and qualitative interviews, results indicate that residents perceive this event as an effective tool to create spaces and opportunities for social cohesion and community pride. The perceived neutrality of the event organizer (here, a well-known international organization external to the region) and the event’s ability to connect with local traditions and places of significance may be instrumental in building stronger senses of pride in the city and helping it overcome some of the sociopolitical barriers that might otherwise hinder progress.
While there is an increasing interest in the potential of sport to foster community development, little research has focused on how and when such a phenomenon occurs during the event planning phase and what characteristics help drive positive participation legacies. Against this backdrop, our research begins to identify some of the key factors that contribute to such impacts and aims to lay a foundation for future work in this area. More info can be found when you visit 해외스포츠중계.
While the costs associated with hosting a sports event can be tremendous, it is essential that countries and cities that are willing to take this on find ways to develop sustainable strategies that will save them from drowning in debt. These include leveraging the popularity of the event to attract visitors and encourage local participation, as well as creating a legacy for the athletes and their communities after the event has ended. In addition, there is the potential for local businesses to reap significant rewards from an influx of tourists and investment in infrastructure. These benefits can be long-term and have the potential to transform a city’s image and reputation.