When Representing Your Country Becomes Political

For FIFA and the IOC, the line between national pride and politics can be hard to navigate.

Written by

Tracy Grant

Fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

History

When it comes to sporting events, there is perhaps nothing more stirring than the sight of victorious athletes standing on the Olympic podium as their national anthem is played. Similarly, the World Cup is a global phenomenon in which the waving of national colors reaches fever pitch. Certainly, the organizers of the Olympics and the World Cup—the IOC and FIFA—have created events built on national pride. But what happens when the balance tips and the...