ABSTRACT
Events are embedded within the socio-cultural milieus of their host communities. In this chapter the authors considers some of the complexities of hosting major international sporting events in non-secular Islamic countries. Thus, staging international sporting events in different social and cultural contexts, such as those offered by non-secular Islamic states, may expose conflicts between the Christian-based ethics and values that underpin the ethos of those events, and the Islamic values of host nations. In the next section the authors begin to consider some of the key elements of Islam that event managers should consider when staging major international sporting events in non-secular Islamic countries. Some Islamic states are actively pursuing opportunities to host international sports events. The financial case can be easily made for staging an international sporting event within economically wealthy Islamic countries such as Bahrain, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar and the UAE.
