Sport tourism: a state of the art

In this paper it is intended to examine the long-established, yet until recently, little recognised importance of sport tourism. Therefore the object of the study, sport tourism, will be defined and examplified. The influences that shaped the development of sport tourism will be summarised and explained in order to establish why the phenomenon started, how it started, where it started and how it developed. A sociological analysis of the emergence of what will be referred to as “a marriage of convenience” between sport and tourism is offered. Furthermore a state of the art will be provided, as well as an overview of missing facts.