This collection provides interdisciplinary study of sport in the Middle East in the context of history, politics, policies, gender, religion, ideology and international relations. The chapters examine the role of the Pan-Arab Games in strengthening the bonds of Arab identity in Qatar, the contribution of sport to the building of nationhood and cultural image in Lebanon and Turkey, female involvement in the Olympic movement in Middle Eastern countries, how sport has facilitated the promotion of gender equality and how sport has served the social and cultural transformation of the Islamic world.

Study of the role and functions of sport in the Middle East in its historical, political and cultural context is long overdue. Based on recent research conducted by prominent young scholars in this field, this collection will inspire and stimulate the future development of research in the Islamic world.

This book was originally published as a special issue of The International Journal of the History of Sport.

Fan Hong is a Professor at the School of Asian Studies, University College Cork, Ireland. Her main research interests are in the areas of culture, politics, business, gender and sport.

1. Our Games! The Pan-Arab Games (1953-1965) Luis Henrique Rolim Silva and Hans-Dieter Gerber 2. 'Pioneer of Olympism in the Middle East': Gabriel Gemayel and Lebanese Sport Andrea L. Stanton 3. Women in Management and Leadership in the Olympic Movement in Muslim Majority Countries: An Empirical Evaluation of Huntington's Clash of Civilisations Typology Shushu Chen and Ian Henry 4. The Sportification and Heritagisation of Traditional Turkish Oil Wrestling Birgit Krawietz 5. Out of Bounds: Cultural Barriers to Female Sports Participation in Qatar Geoff Harkness 6. The Establishment and Development of the Initial Physical Education Teacher's Training Programme for Women in Oman Yousra Al-Sinani 7. Book Reviews: Makhzanat Arriadah: Korat El-Kadam Namoudhajan [Makhzenization of Sport in Morocco: case study of football] and Sport et Politique en AlgérieMahfoud Amara