International Sports involves two or more countries competing in a sport that has been formally recognized by a governing body. Some of the most famous examples include the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup. In the modern age, international sports are big business and can have a major impact on the political, economic and cultural aspects of countries around the world. Nelson Mandela argued that sport can bring people together and can have a positive impact on a country’s image or identity.

Despite the commercialization of sport, there is still much public support for it worldwide. The justification for this varies from the desire to foster physical fitness and health to supporting national pride, economic development and political stability.

In many parts of the world, top-level sport is highly regarded as an art form, with an emphasis on aesthetics over quantified achievement. In Renaissance England, for example, the cultivated Florentine game of calcio was widely admired for its good looks and elegant attire. The modern Olympic Games were originally designed to unite the world through sporting competition, but this goal has often been overshadowed by politics and corporate sponsorship.

Nevertheless, sport is one of the most popular leisure activities worldwide, with an estimated global market value of US$325 billion. This figure is comprised of several markets, including broadcasting and licensing, merchandise sales and sponsorship. This market also includes the lucrative eSports industry, which is a subset of the global gaming industry.