The theory of soft power through sport is set to be severely tested

The last month has demonstrated real limits of using sporting events as international PR exercises, writes David Harding

The 2021 Tokyo Olympics are due to take place this week (Getty)

Countries using sport to promote a favourable image of themselves globally is a concept that is barely out of the news nowadays.

It has almost become a bigger part of the conversation around any major international event than the actual sport itself.

From Azerbaijan to Brazil to China to Qatar, and now, increasingly, Saudi Arabia, countries have used, or are using, sports to project the image they see of themselves when looking in the mirror.