Politics and sport have been intertwined for centuries. Politicians often use sport to promote nationalism and assert political ideologies. Sport can invoke nationalism through symbols like flags and anthems at events like the Olympics. However, the Olympics have also become overly political with issues like excessive nationalism around medal counts, cash incentives for medalists, and protests from political dissidents in host countries, compromising the original ideals of the Games. Globalization has allowed sport to transcend barriers but the organization of large sporting events like the Olympics remains inherently political.