Geopolitics, sports and Russian-Ukrainian war

Jurič, Jan (author), Rogelj, Boštjan (author)

Critical geography of sports underscores the intricate relationship between sport and politics, challenging the notion that sport is an apolitical activity. Sports contribute actively to shaping of the political production of space and are frequently leveraged for political purposes. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, where severe sanctions have been imposed on Russia and Belarus. This study draws on a comprehensive review of academic literature, media reports and online sources, aiming to shed light on the complex interplay between sport and geopolitics in the case of Russian-Ukrainian war. The study identifies five of the most commonly implemented sanctions, providing a chronological overview of their enforcement. Additionally, it examines the key drivers behind these rigorous measures, with a particular focus on the unique role of sports in contemporary Russia. Our analysis confirms that one of the principal factors underpinning these extensive sanctions is Russian President Vladimir Putin's deep affinity for sports and his use of it as a political tool throughout his leadership. The sanctions imposed on Russia and Belarus in response to the war in Ukraine has further reinforced the premise that the notion of sports as politically neutral is a myth, revealing the deep-seated interconnection between sports and politics.

• Language: English
• Keywords: geopolitics, sport geography, Russia, Russian-Ukrainian conflict, Vladimir Putin
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Publication date: 01.01.2024
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 9-28
• Numbering: No. 50
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-177570
• UDC: 79:327.5(470+477)
• ISSN on article: 2303-8950
• DOI: 10.35666/23038950.2024.50.09
• COBISS.SI-ID: 259614211

Copyright

Licenca CC BY 4.0 je navedena na spletni strani revije.

• Publication date in RUL: 24.12.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Geographical review
• Shortened title: Geogr. rev.
• Publisher: Geographical Society in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Department of Geography, Faculty of Science, University of Sarajevo
• ISSN: 2303-8950
• COBISS.SI-ID: 22411784

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: geopolitika, šport, Rusija, Rusko-ukrajinski konflikt, Vladimir Putin