Analysis of the relationship between sports and international relations within the framework of neoliberal theory

In today's world, sporting activities, considered among the most important issues in international relations, stand as primary elements of the inter-country agenda alongside political and economic relations. Sporting events, which can sometimes lead to the rapprochement of two countries and sometimes to the opposite, have become a significant factor in the domestic and foreign policies of states. So much so that athletes, sometimes unofficially, can even assume the role of foreign policy representatives in foreign countries. Based on this, this thesis explores the connection between sports and international relations through recent theories in the field, such as neoliberal approaches, with key concepts including globalization, cooperation, free market competitiveness, and privatization. In doing so, the main questions sought to be answered are as follows: How has sport become a tool of foreign policy? What are the different dimensions of sport and how do they reflect on international relations? What are the benefits and drawbacks to states and other actors of hosting global sports events? How do states and other actors use sports in regulating their international relations and for what purposes, and how can this be explained within the framework of Neoliberalism arguments? Initially, within the theoretical and conceptual framework, neoliberal theory and, in general, the concepts of sport and international relations are discussed, and in the second section, the relationship between domestic and international politics with sport and the concept of sports diplomacy are examined more deeply. In the third and final section, the impact of sports on the international economy is discussed, and in the conclusion, answers to the questions posed at the beginning are provided based on the information obtained. The conclusions reached in the study are briefly as follows: States and other actors use sport as a means of power, image, and economic benefit in international relations. Sport is often more of an activity with an economic dimension rather than just a cultural activity, and it can open up a specific area to decision-making mechanisms and Neoliberal arguments in parallel.