This book explores the interrelationships between nations, regions and states in the landscape of contemporary international sport, focusing on identity. Using case studies, the book explores themes such as the geopolitics of sports events, contested identities, and ownership of sport.

Jim O'Brien is Senior Lecturer at Solent University, Southampton, UK, where he teaches and develops the academic curriculum across the sports journalism and journalism degrees. He is also an author and researcher, with a particular interest in the history, politics, culture and mediatisation of Spanish football.

Russell Holden is an established Lecturer, Writer, Researcher and Broadcaster specialising in the Sociology of Sport with a particular emphasis on the interconnection between sport and politics. In 2009 he launched In the Zone Sport and Politics Consultancy. In the Zone offers a unique range of services for academics, teachers, journalists and sport policy-makers on issues including the links between sport and nationalism, identity, human rights, gender and reconciliation.

Xavier Ginesta is Senior Lecturer at the University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia (UVic-UCC). He also collaborates with the Olympic Studies Centre at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), Spain. His main research interests are sport management, communication and politics and sport place branding. He collaborates regularly with different media outlets as an expert in sport and politics and is a member of the Traducció Audiovisual, Comunicació i Territori (TRACTE) research group at UVic-UCC.

Introduction

Part I: International Sport: States, Nations and Identity

1. Sport, Identity and Constitutional Crisis: Sporting Politics?

2. The Globalisation of Sport and its Impact on National Identity in England and Wales: Cricket's New International Power Base

3. Soccer, Identity and Sporting Citizenship in Ireland: Border Crossings

4. The Kosovo Football Team, National Symbols and Identity: "A Team of Eleven Named Men"

Part II: Politics, Power and Sports Events

5. Undermining Female Athleticism in Sport Media: "Serena Williams Demolishes Fellow Mum"

6. Hypermasculinity and Racist Discourses in the Spanish Media: The Spectacularisation of Radio Sport Programming

7. Home and Belonging in the Experiences of Professional Basketball Migrants: "I have many places which I can call home"

8. The Political Use of Sport: Christian Democracy, Sport and the Rome Olympics

9. The Olympic Games as a Global Media Event: A Political and Social Analysis of Rio 2016 through the Media

Part III: Contemporary Perspectives on International Sport: Governance, Ownership and Sporting Cultures

10. The Political Environment and Supporter Ownership in Football: A Comparative Analysis between England and Germany

11.Culture, Tradition and Change in Elite Level Football: The English Premier League and La Liga

12. Entertainment Multinationals, Public Sport Diplomacy and Identity Change in Spanish Football: Liquid Modernity

13. Sport, Media and Identities in the Era of Globalisation: The Role of Football Broadcasts in Consolidating the Catalan Language

14. Legal and Political Borders and Frontiers: Professional and Non-Professional Sport

15. Conclusion: Sport and Power Relations in the Twenty-First Century