Jonathan Grix is a Professor of Sport Politics and Policy and Head of the Sport Policy Unit at Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom. He has published widely on sport politics, sports policy and the politics of sports mega-events. Jonathan is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Sport Politics and Policy.

Paul Michael Brannagan is a Reader in Sport Management and Policy at Manchester Metropolitan University, United Kingdom. His research focuses on the use of mega-events by national governments for achieving political, economic, social and cultural objectives. Paul has published in some of the leading politics and leisure journals, including Leisure Studies, Global Society and International Affairs.

Barrie Houlihan is an Emeritus Professor of Sport Policy at Loughborough University, United Kingdom, and has contributed greatly to the development of the study of sport policy globally. He has published widely on sport policy, sport politics anti-doping, and governance.

1. Introduction, 2. Brazil, 3. Cuba, 4. Qatar, 5. Turkey, 6. China, 7. India, 8. Japan, 9. South Korea, 10. France, 11. Germany, 12. The Netherlands, 13. Norway, 14. The United Kingdom, 15. Russia, 16. Australia, 17. New Zealand/Aotearoa, 18. Kenya, 19. South Africa, 20. Canada, 21. The United States, 22. Conclusion