ABSTRACT
Globalization has become one of the most important analytical themes in the sociological investigation of sport. This chapter explores the intersections of sport and globalization with reference to some key sociological issues. First, it introduces the concept of glocalization to examine how the global aspects of sport show tendencies towards cultural convergence and divergence; the idea of the 'duality of glocality' captures these dual trends. Sport is deeply embedded within glocal cultural processes that are driven by migration, media, and commerce. The chapter explores how global sport is marked by processes of relativization and differentiation, particularly in the construction of local and national identities. It further addresses cultural identities and practices within global sport, in particular how globalization gives rise to complex, hybrid, 'glocal' sport cultures. The chapter concludes by arguing that studies of glocalization should draw more on sport and on case-study approaches in order to understand and explain more effectively the complexities of cultural globalization.
