Sport in Asian Society: Past and present

The 2002 Word Cup in Korea and Japan is just one example of how important modern sport has become to Asia - politically, economically and emotionally; and yet the development of sport in this largest and most diverse continent on earth has been little studied. This collection explores sport's role in many Asian countries, including China, Japan, India, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia and Iran, and charts its progress from imperial legacy of the West in the 19th century, to instrument of national self-assertion and prestige in the 20th, and finally to global consumer culture into the 21st century and beyond. These essays provide insights into a complex society which is becoming a major force in world sport.