This book analyzes the motivations of the Chinese authorities to pursue the international sporting events. It investigates the 21 oft-underappreciated sporting events governed by FIFA, FINA, FIBA, IAAF, and other international organizations, and linking them with the calculus of the Chinese authorities to push forwards economic development, polish national image, and realize the supreme leaders' political ambitions. The author therefore sheds important light on the intertwined nature of sport and politics in the Chinese state and reveals how pervasive the sporting events' roles have been in China's domestic politics and international relations. This book's broad scope is expected to attract the subscriptions of the academics, think tanks, diplomats, government officials, and international sporting organizations.

Between 1984 and 2021, elite athletes from the member regions of Greater China – China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong – competed at each of the ten Summer Olympics. By winning 263 gold medals, 199 silver, and 173 bronze, China became a global sports superpower. Taiwan and Hong Kong pocketed 7 gold medals, 10 silver, and 17 bronze and 2 gold medals, 3 silver, and 4 bronze, respectively, displaying their world-leading statuses in archery, badminton, baseball, cycling, fencing, gymnastics, Judo, karate, sailing, Taekwondo, table tennis, and weightlifting. In response, the leaders of the three regions delivered high-profile praise. Their administrations awarded cash, badges, and/or honorary titles to the medalists. By reviewing journalistic reports, key-players’ memoirs, official documents, and scholarly works, this book aims to understand the significance of the Olympic medal haul to the Chinese, Taiwanese, and Hong Kong authorities. Its findings detail the context in which the Olympic medal haul was leveraged for the political change of the three regions and their relations with each other. They also reveal that the praise and rewards bestowed by the respective authorities on the medalists not only celebrated their jurisdictions’ sporting excellence, but served broader strategic goals across domestic politics and international relations.

Chu explores the politics behind Taiwanese cities' pursuit of international sporting events, and the Chinese authorities' strategic measures in handling the relations with Taiwan since the 1990s. It is assumed that the Chinese authorities constantly oppose Taiwanese cities' application for, and boycott their subsequent holding of, international sporting events. Doing so would obstruct Taiwan's capacity to raise its visibility and influence in world society, and defend the One-China principle. In fact, the role of China in Taiwan's pursuit of international sporting events is not invariably as a fatal obstructer, but sometimes a neutral bystander or even an enthusiastic supporter. Chu examines the reasons behind this phenomenon. Reviewing the 18 Taiwanese bidding attempts and four hosting projects, he argues that China's inconsistent response is determined by the ups and downs of Cross-Strait political ties. As a result, this book provides insight into the nexus between sports and politics in the context of China-Taiwan rivalry. A must read for scholars, students, and other watchers of Cross-Strait relations.

This book vividly elucidates the inseparable nature between politics and sport in China. The holding of sporting mega-events is viewed by the Chinese authorities as a prominent way to push forward the Reform and Opening up, arouse the patriotism among the public, and display national resurgence in the world. Chinese cities thus have keenly quested for the Olympics, the Asian Games and the World University Games since the 1980s. Theoretically, the President, the Premier and the central government should provide all-out support, so boosting the Chinese cities' odds of success. The reality yet shows that their attitude towards the bids vary from case to case. Through reviewing the 20 bidding cases, this book aims to demystify the reasons behind. The findings provide an in-depth account of (1) how domestic and international political factors determine the state leaders' blessing and silence as well as the central government's backing, indifference and opposition, and (2) how the bids for the sporting mega-events are used to serve the broader political goals of the Chinese authorities at home and abroad. Additionally, they shed light on the political strategies to boost the Chinese cities' chance of success, and the political reasons for their win, loss and discontinuation, in the bidding contests. The book will be a valuable resource for researches interested in the domestic politics and international relations of China.

This book vividly elucidates the inseparable nature between politics and sport in China. The holding of sporting mega-events is viewed by the Chinese authorities as a prominent way to push forward the Reform and Opening up, arouse the patriotism among the public, and display national resurgence in the world. Chinese cities thus have keenly quested for the Olympics, the Asian Games and the World University Games since the 1980s. Theoretically, the President, the Premier and the central government should provide all-out support, so boosting the Chinese cities' odds of success. The reality yet shows that their attitude towards the bids vary from case to case. Through reviewing the 20 bidding cases, this book aims to demystify the reasons behind. The findings provide an in-depth account of (1) how domestic and international political factors determine the state leaders' blessing and silence as well as the central government's backing, indifference and opposition, and (2) how the bids for the sporting mega-events are used to serve the broader political goals of the Chinese authorities at home and abroad. Additionally, they shed light on the political strategies to boost the Chinese cities' chance of success, and the political reasons for their win, loss and discontinuation, in the bidding contests. The book will be a valuable resource for researches interested in the domestic politics and international relations of China.

China's sports history and its contemporary role in the global sporting community have become well-known, but the sporting history and development of China's two Special Administrative Regions - Hong Kong and Macau - have not received the coverage they deserve either in their historical contexts or since the handovers of control to the People's Republic. By drawing on a multi-national group of scholars and practitioners, this volume makes a unique contribution to the understanding of sports development in greater China. The essays in this anthology examine the evolution of key sports, the hosting of sporting mega-events, the nexus of sports and politics, identity issues, and the role of sporting diplomacy. The chapters provide not only an analysis of colonial legacies but also in-depth accounts of the challenges to and outcomes of sports development in Hong Kong after 1997 and Macau after 1999. The chapters in this book were originally published in various special issues of The International Journal of the History of Sport.

This book explores the connection between politics and mega-events in post-handover Hong Kong and Macao. It also offers an in-depth account of the two cities' keenness to integrate with China and engage in the international society and China's eagerness to build image, boost influence and gain respect on the global arena. This work will facilitate academics, think tanks, diplomats and government officials to further understand the politics and international relations of China, Hong Kong and Macao.

China's sports history and its contemporary role in the global sporting community have become well-known, but the sporting history and development of China's two Special Administrative Regions - Hong Kong and Macau - have not received the coverage they deserve either in their historical contexts or since the handovers of control to the People's Republic. By drawing on a multi-national group of scholars and practitioners, this volume makes a unique contribution to the understanding of sports development in greater China. The essays in this anthology examine the evolution of key sports, the hosting of sporting mega-events, the nexus of sports and politics, identity issues, and the role of sporting diplomacy. The chapters provide not only an analysis of colonial legacies but also in-depth accounts of the challenges to and outcomes of sports development in Hong Kong after 1997 and Macau after 1999. The chapters in this book were originally published in various special issues of The International Journal of the History of Sport.