ABSTRACT
The relationship between politics, sport and diplomacy is a long and intriguing one. History shows that when sport provides a function 'beyond the game' it is often always exploited by ruling elites. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book introduces a new, quadripartite framework that better accounts for the networks, actors, channels, venues and players where sport and diplomacy converge. It proposes four theoretical sub-categories: traditional sports diplomacy, sports diplomacy, the specialised diplomacy of non-state sporting actors (NSSAs), and sports anti-diplomacy. The book also introduces 'new' sports diplomacy, situating the theoretical category as a uniquely post-Cold War development. It discusses sport and diplomacy in the non-state actor context. The book aims to increase conversations between academics, practitioners and policy makers from both the sport and diplomacy realms.
