Sport and Human Rights Issues: Can Major Sporting Events Improve Civil Liberties? An Examination of the Olympic and FIFA World Cup Host Nations Following the World War II

Abstract

In recent decades, the relationship between major sporting events (MSEs) and human rights has increasingly become a topic of debate and academic interest. Governments, politicians, and event stakeholders, including organizing bodies, frequently position MSEs as catalysts for various legacies. These include tangible outcomes such as economic growth and intangible effects like increased national pride. Proponents even argue that hosting MSEs may foster democratic developments, moderate authoritarian governance, and enhance civil liberties within host nations. While a growing body of research has examined the economic and intangible effects, the specific relationship between MSEs and improvements in civil and human rights remains underexplored. So far, mainly case studies exist. This study addresses this gap by systematically examining whether hosting an MSE improves civil liberties. By employing regression models with relevant controls, we analyze data on all Summer Olympic and FIFA World Cup host countries between 1946 and 2023 to examine the relationship between hosting and civil and political rights. After adding contextual analysis of selected historical cases to our examination, we conclude that an MSE, in general, does not lead to improvements in civil liberties. MSEs, instead, are often used to advance and showcase given political strategies and goals, whether or not they are consistent with human rights.