Abstract
The transnational spread of sport in the 19th century, facilitated primarily by the migration of elite athletes, culminated at the turn of the century in the emergence of international sports organizations. These bodies monitored the observance and development of rules, regulated international sporting activities, and organized world and European championships, reflecting in their structure European global dominance. By the mid-20th century, international sporting events had become significant transnational phenomena, their impact magnified by intense media coverage. These events became arenas for commercial profit and political cooptation, reflecting various political and social conflicts and developmental trends. While European countries clearly dominated the international sports scene until the interwar period, a shift occurred after 1945 in the context of the Cold War and decolonization, leading to a provincialization of sport in Europe as one of numerous continents.
Koller, Christian