The Olympic Games have helped sport spread internationally.

• A. They hinder international competition.
• B. The Olympic Games have helped sport spread internationally.
• C. They have no global influence.
• D. They only affect a single region.

Answer: (B)

The main idea this item tests is how the Olympic Games function as a global diffuser of sport. The Olympics bring together athletes, coaches, officials, and fans from all over the world, turning it into a worldwide showcase of sport. This visibility helps popularize sports beyond their regions of origin and across different cultures. International governing bodies standardize rules and competition formats through the Games, giving nations a common framework for playing and teaching the sport. The event also creates networks—coaches and administrators meet, ideas and training methods are exchanged, and practices spread from one country to another. Media coverage of the Games reaches diverse audiences, inspiring young people globally and prompting investment in sport programs and facilities in places that might not have previously engaged with those sports. Hosting the Games in various countries further introduces new audiences to different sports, speeding up diffusion. Because of these interconnected processes, the Olympic Games contribute to sport spreading internationally.