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.

For the first time it can be revealed in detail how much cash the IOC paid to an Olympic host. Investigative journalist Jens Weinreich publishes the list of 117 payments to Rio 2016 in a worldwide exclusive in his magazine SPORT & POLITICS. The revelation helps to understand one of the most fundamental questions around the Olympic movement these days: What kind of contribution can Tokyo 2020 really expect from the IOC?

New study suggests that hosting a Formula 1 race does not produce positive effects on GDP, employment or tourism. On the contrary, the study finds evidence of negative effects three to four years after a Grand Prix has been held.

China, Japan, Kenya, Los Angeles, Macau, Singapore… Preseason is about to start and the English Premier League is going global again. It is all about money-spinning.

Cricket remains in the grip of an elite, whose appetite for growth is typified by the sport’s lack of interest in the Olympic movement, meanwhile, cricket commands higher TV rights than any other sport outside football but is struggling to grow globally due to historical, cultural and structural reasons.

For the establishment in the financial sector, cryptocurrencies and the ‘Blockchain’ are new innovations not to be trusted, but some of Europe’s biggest football clubs are starting to get involved. Is it hype or the future?

ECA’s plans for an additional European competition is “threatening domestic football”, says European Leagues’ secretary Georg Pagnl at World Football Summit and also lashed out at UEFA prize money for cementing a competitive imbalance.

Analysis: The recent World Cup in football was named “the best ever” by the FIFA President. But from an economic point of view, its legacy is questionable. The investments surpassing 25 billion USD may turn out to be highly disproportionate to the benefits. Economist Matthias Fett looks at the numbers.