Dr. Mahfoud Amara
Last week I had the honour of speaking at an international symposium on Olympic Studies and Research, themed “East Meets West,” hosted by the Center of Olympic Studies and Research at Shanghai University of Sport Science. My journey started with a flight from Hamad International Airport, which is becoming a popular spot for international flights. The plane was full of people from all over the world, reminding me of the modern Silk Road and China’s role as a major global manufacturer and exporter.
Among the travellers were African runners en route to a Chinese marathon, exemplifying the global sports migration along the routes of major sporting events. This moment also served as a poignant reminder of the late Professor John Bale, a pioneer in sports geography, who ingeniously blended sports sociology with geographical and demographic/urban studies.
Landing in Shanghai, the busy airport was a first glimpse into the city’s diverse population and China’s economic growth. The urban landscape, marked by impressive buildings and an abundance of new Chinese cars, spoke volumes about the country’s rapid development.
The host of the international symposium Shanghai Sport University focuses on sports education, spanning from humanities and social sciences to lab exercise sciences. These national sports institutions and research centres, located in various provinces of China, play a significant role in understanding sport within the Chinese contexts. This includes exploring the history of sport, its impact on society and the economy, and how it contributes to enhancing China’s performance in international events such as the Olympics. However, this does not fully apply so far to soccer, which is still lagging behind in China compared to other countries in Asia.
During my stay, Chinese TV channels were broadcasting national sports competitions. These events were selecting athletes for the Paris 2024 Olympics, and the level was impressive. China’s large population and investment in sports mean it can produce many talented athletes who have the potential to win medals and keep China at the top in the Olympics.
A key theme of the symposium was the rise of the global south and BRICS nations as new players in the geopolitics of sports, challenging the traditional dominance of Western countries. This shift is not just a geographical reorientation but also reflects a significant investment in sports and the hosting of mega-events. This trend signifies the ongoing evolution and internationalization of sports, bringing increased profits in an era of economic stagnation in the US and Europe. It also raises questions, perhaps more so in the global north, about the sustainability of sports in the face of their growing scale and commercialization.
Dr. Mahfoud Amara is an Associate Professor in Sport Social Sciences and Management at Qatar University.
Dr. Mahfoud Amara is an Associate Professor in Sport Social Sciences and Management at Qatar University.
