Ever since the first Olympic Games in Ancient Greece, sports have become an integral part of human civilization. The last decade has been commemorated by the centennial celebration of the modern Olympic movement. With great anticipation, the Olympics return to Athens, Greece, and we are once again reminded that we live in one of the most exciting periods in the history of sports. Reflecting back on my years of service as the International Olympic Com­ mittee president, I cannot overlook the remarkable changes that have taken place in the world of sports during these two decades. The technological de­ velopment and consequent globalization of the world economy opened up a window of new opportunities for the sports industry. As a result, manage­ ment, economics, and other sciences have become a significant part of modern sports. It is my pleasure to introduce this volume comprising an interesting collec­ tion of papers dealing with various aspects of management, economics and optimization applied to sports. May this book serve as a valuable source of information to researchers and practitioners as well as to casual readers look­ ing for a deeper insight into the magnificent world of sports.

Foreword by: J.A. Samaranch