ABSTRACT
Globally, sport has been used as a practical and discursive tool for development. The global era of sport has created the opportunity for sport to be a social force for internationalism, reconciliation and international development. Sport is currently linked to a wide variety of development initiatives as it is often posited as a tool to assist in economic and social development. The potential outcomes of sport development may include betterments of the sport itself, plus individuals who are involved in sport for various benefits and experiences, and in a wider sense nations and communities. The emerging nations are undergoing rapid urbanisation and development; this has been instrumental to growth across the sport industry. The common denominator among these nations is a recognition of the opportunities that sport provides for both social and economic development. Both the public and private sectors are seeking to harness sport opportunities in various forms as a means to develop and promote their society and stimulate their economy. Specifically, this chapter sets out the aim of this book, namely, to provide answers to the question of how sport is contributing to development in emerging nations. The chapter begins by defining the context and contemporary understanding of sport and development by reviewing the foremost definitions, such as those by Houlihan and White, Coalter and Astle. The context of the emerging nations, along with their unique characteristics and challenges, is delineated as the setting for this book. A brief overview of key elements in each chapter of this book is provided.
