“The concept of “soft power” has rapidly become one of the most significant ways to understand sports mega-events today. This book offers a succinct introduction to the concept as an intellectual heuristic, but does not stop there: it guides readers through 5 case studies of how actors in emerging states use sports mega-events to advance their interests in the global arena. This unique comparative look at sports mega-events in Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, and Qatar offers an accessible primer on precisely how and why “soft power” is far more than marketing and branding. Scholars of political science, IR, geography, sports studies, and beyond will certainly find this book to be the beginning, rather than the end, of important discussions about power, politics, and sports in the today’s shifting geopolitical terrain.” (Natalie Koch, Associate Professor & O’Hanley Faculty Scholar, Department of Geography, The Maxwell School, Syracuse University, USA)