Terrorism, sport and public policy in the risk society

Abstract

There are strong links between sport and terrorsim, the extent of which is evidenced through the 168 sport-related terrorist attacks that occurred between 1972 and 2004. The terrorist power of uncertainity is potent because we live in a risk society, characterised by the cultural desire to control chance, be secure, and through inistitutions implementing sophisticated risk management policies. Accordingly, expensive risk management strategies, often involving international cooperation bewteen governments, are now being implemented at major sporting fixtures to prevent terrorism attacks. The appropriation of sport, as a site of terror, has resulted in a positive backlash of government cooperation, and multinational networking as well as grass roots resistance demonstrated by spectators who want to prevent terrorsim interrupting their enjoyment of sporting events.