A new research collaboration between University of Bath and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) in Brazil will explore the impact of major sporting events on society, politics and the economy.

The new project – co-funded by a Researcher Links grant from the British Council and FAPESP – will enable academics from University of Bath’s Department for Health to share their research on the legacy claims of major sporting events with colleagues in Brazil.

The partnership is being launched at a time when the amount of public money spent on providing the stadia and infrastructure needed to host the Rio 2016 Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup 2014 has resulted in widespread social unrest in Brazil.

As part of the research, the partnership will set up a workshop looking at global sport events and how they can result in tensions between competing local and national agendas and cultural values.

Project lead, professor Simone Fullagar from University of Bath, said: “With a focus on sport and social transformation, the workshop will explore the socio-cultural, economic and political complexity surrounding major events such as the FIFA World Cup and the Rio Olympic Games.”