In the 1800s, sports competitions started becoming global events, bringing together the ideas of competition, performance, and measuring achievements. International sports organizations created rules that were similar to other industries trying to set standards, like the German Institute for Standardization. These rules allowed sports associations from different countries to compete on an international level, helped by advancements like telefax, radio, television, and the Internet.
Standardizing rules has made it possible to compare performances across different places and times. This has led to lists of records, not just from official events, but also special achievements, like who is the best penalty-taker in soccer or the seven-time Formula One world champion. International competitions, broadcasted in the media, allow more people to watch sports and become fans of athletes, teams, and entire sports from different countries (Overloop, 2015). This is called internationalization, when things go beyond national borders in various fields, including sports.
As internationalization has grown, sports associations have gained political influence and formed monopolies, meaning they control the rights to host international events. This has given them power over athletes and other partners. To succeed in international markets, athletes have to be able to move between countries, and often, their home sports associations and governments provided support for this (Baer-Hoffman, 2016; Du Bois & Heyndels, 2008; Frick, 2008; Frick, 2012; Heubeck, 2005; Taylor, 2006; Schwägerl, 2009). Just like scientists, artists, and other specialized workers, athletes needed to be internationally mobile.
While businesses around the world have become more interconnected, international sports have made an effort to maintain a balance between national identity and being part of a global community. National competitions for medals are essential, as countries compete for their total medal counts (Haut et al., 2016).
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Haut, J., Prohl, R., & Emrich, E. (2016). Nothing but medals? Attitudes towards the importance of Olympic success. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 51(3), 332 348.
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Overloop, Pascal C. van (2015). Internationalisierung profes- sioneller Fußballclubs: Grundlagen, Status quo und Erkla ̈rung aus Sicht des internationalen Managements (Internationalization of professional football clubs). Wiesbaden: Springer.
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