Sportovní bojkoty jako diplomatický nástroj: Případové studie vybraných sportovních mega akcí

This bachelor’s thesis examines sports boycotts as a tool of sports diplomacy in the context of contemporary international relations. The aim of the thesis is to explain under what conditions sports boycotts lead to different diplomatic, institutional, and reputational outcomes. The research is based on a qualitative comparative case study design and analyzes three selected cases – the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games, the 2021 IIHF World Championship, and the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. The theoretical part of the thesis draws on the concepts of soft power and sports diplomacy and focuses on the role of sport as a tool of political influence. Based on this, an analytical framework is developed, consisting of three levels of analysis: diplomatic, institutional, and reputational. The empirical part applies this framework to the selected case studies and examines how different forms of boycotts manifest in practice. The findings suggest that the effectiveness of sports boycotts depends on a combination of factors, particularly the level of international support, the nature of the boycott itself, and the involvement of key actors, including sports organizations and sponsors. At the same time, the analysis shows that sports boycotts do not necessarily lead to clear outcomes, and their effects vary depending on the specific context. The thesis thus contributes to a better understanding of sport as a tool of political pressure and its role in contemporary international relations.