What do nations aim to achieve with the use of sports events, especially the Olympic Games?

Nations often leverage sports events, particularly the Olympic Games, as a platform to promote their national interests. This involves showcasing their cultural identity, national strength, and global standing through international competitions. By hosting so prominently recognized events, countries aim to enhance their international image, attract tourism, and stimulate economic growth. These events typically provide an opportunity for nations to demonstrate their capabilities in organizing large-scale, complex events, thereby seeking to influence global perception positively.

While environmental sustainability, international cooperation, and the creation of sporting legacies are also significant objectives associated with hosting the Olympics, they often serve more as secondary benefits or ideals rather than the primary focus of a nation's agenda. Nations prioritize the promotion of their own interests—whether economic, political, or cultural—over other goals in the context of participating in and hosting sports events like the Olympics.