When the Japanese people now faces dramatic cost overruns while preparing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, they are not the first to learn a hard economic lesson. A recent academic study argues that the Olympic Games are naturally subject to severe cost overruns, while the IOC criticises the study for mixing budgets and attributing non-Olympic costs to the Olympic budget. This article examines claims and counter-claims in the debate about Olympic costs.

After agreements between workers’ rights organisations and Qatar a new law has been introduced that will strengthen migrant workers’ rights in Qatar. Critics claim that effective changes are yet to be seen and question Qatar’s will to change.

"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.

With the publication of a damning report on working conditions at Russian World Cup Stadium construction sites, Human Rights Watch call for more transparency from FIFA about their efforts in securing human rights. This challenges what FIFA reported earlier this week, when issuing an ‘activity report’ on the organisation’s progress in the field.

How well will Qatar tackle critical reporting, ask two Danish journalists after being held back and interrogated while doing a documentary on the 2022 FIFA World Cup preparations.

A new report from Amnesty International slams Qatar for not living up to promises to improve workers’ rights and adds to a growing international criticism of Qatar’s inability to properly implement adopted policies.

Choosing permanent Olympic host cities, one on each continent, could help the IOC secure cheaper and more sustainable events while living up to their own Olympic values, argues Igor Kovač in this commentary piece.

Four years before the opening match, the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia has already produced significant cost overruns and construction work is falling behind deadlines. Overall, it looks set to become the most expensive World Cup ever, says Martin Müller from the University of Zürich in this comment piece.