Handbook of Sport and International Development

With sport’s role now firmly embedded in international development contexts, policy and delivery, this comprehensive Handbook provides a contemporary, multi-disciplinary overview of state-of-the-art research in this critical space. It features a holistic synthesis of current scholarship as well as new and emerging approaches, contexts and development foci. The Handbook includes chapters on a great variety of sport initiatives, ranging from small community projects to large-scale international events.



The Handbook establishes the nexus between reflection, action, and innovation by presenting critical issues from diverse perspectives and with varied voices. Contributors include seminal scholars from broader disciplines, sport-specific development experts as well as up-and-coming academics who address contemporary challenges such as climate change, gender discrimination, athlete diplomacy and the effects of – and sports’ responses to – the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, the Handbook offers critical outlooks regarding concepts, methodologies, collaborations and knowledge mobilisation in sport and international development.



The Handbook of Sport and International Development will be a crucial resource for those studying and researching sport in international development settings. It will also be critical for policymakers and development practitioners seeking to gain a broader perspective on the important role of sport in international development.