World Cups and Olympics: Why Diplomacy, Politics, and Media Matter as Much as the Winners

Between the Milano Cortina Olympics, the Paralympics, and the FIFA World Cup, 2026 is a dream year for sports fans. But these mega-events go beyond sports and medals; they are highly political and extensively covered by the media. Large international competitions are opportunities for host countries to achieve diplomatic, political, and economic objectives through sports. How these events are conveyed to fans locally and globally also matters, as sports and media constantly influence one another. To unpack these topics, Intended Consequences welcomes Cecilia Arregui Olivera and Vitaly Kazakov, Postdoctoral Fellows at the Media and Journalism Studies Department at Aarhus University.