You can see the evidence of globalization in athletics everywhere: from the sale of Kobe Bryant jerseys in China to the growing popularity of the EPL in the United States. The creation of worldwide markets for athletic events has predictably resulted in hugely increased salaries for top performers and skyrocketing values for successful franchises. In many cases, on the other hand, interest in inferior local products has withered away.
The Olympic Games are probably the ultimate in global athletics. The entire world will be watching the games. A few of the athletes will become international celebrities. Most will be also-rans and will be forgotten quickly.
The difference between the Olympics and, say, textile manufacturing, is that no one feels sorry for unsuccessful athletes. Donald Trump is not riding to their rescue. Free trade and meritocracy prevail.
There is a lesson here for the politics of trade.