Qatar and Russia. Corruption and doping. That is what everybody is talking about at Play the Game 2017 in Eindhoven. The latest developments in both doping and corruption investigations link the two countries closer and closer together. Are we seeing the contours of a collusion between Qatar and Russia in sports?

The child and human rights criteria recently included in mega-event bidding material will not be enforced retrospectively and the effects are still to be seen.

"Many people had a lot to gain from the Games. The people of Rio, unfortunately, were not among them," says Juliana Barbassa in this comment piece arguing that the Rio 2016 Games accomplished precisely what their organizers intended.

Petitions and referendums against Olympic bids show that the Olympic Games are no longer perceived as indisputably beneficial as they are presented to the public as being. Through a look at the city development plans for the Rio 2004 and 2016 bids, Igor Kováč points to some of the reasons why.

FIFA has decided to publish the so-called ‘Garcia report’ investigating the circumstances surrounding the bidding for the FIFA world Cups 2018 and 2022.

The Swedish Olympic Committee initially wanted to host the 2022 winter Games, but the city said no. Now, the tune has changed. A majority in the municipality of Stockholm wants to proceed with a bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in 2026.

While the Budapest City Assembly approved the city’s bid for the Olympics in 2024, a youth organisation has initiated an anti-Olympics campaign and is advocating for a referendum to decide whether to go forward with the bid or not.

Los Angeles is the latest bidding city to project large economic benefits from hosting an Olympic Games. However, a number of Olympic legacy studies suggest less certain outcomes.