The Moscow Playbook: How Russia Used, Abused, and Transformed Sports in the Hunt for Power

An eye-opening account of how Russia's leaders have used sports as a political tool to solidify their global power

"Victories in sport do more to cement the nation than a hundred political slogans." This was the pep talk Russian athletes heard in 2000 from their new president, Vladimir Putin. And so, for more than two decades, Putin has used sports like his Soviet predecessors to stoke nationalism at home, boost prestige abroad, and cement his position as leader.

The Moscow Playbook: How Russia Used, Abused, and Transformed Sports in the Hunt for Gold is the first book to fully examine the intersection of Russian sports and geopolitical power, from the dominant Soviet teams of past Olympics to recent doping scandals and international sanctions. With new research from Olympic archives, records of the Soviet bloc and current Russian media, historian Bruce Berglund shows how Moscow's leaders have defied the rules of the game for decades as the world's governing bodies turned a blind eye.

Featuring oligarchs, sportocrats, and famous athletes from Olga Korbut to Alex Ovechkin, this is a timely investigation into the gears of power, nationalism, and money that drive the Russian sports machine.

Author: Bruce Berglund
Publisher: Triumph Books (IL)
Published: 01/20/2026
Pages: 288
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 9.10h x 6.10w x 1.20d
ISBN: 9781637277485

About the Author

Bruce Berglund is a historian of Europe, Russia, and world sports. A three-time Fulbright scholar, his books include The Fastest Game in the World, a global history of hockey. Bruce has been interviewed about sports and politics for outlets in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia. A proud son of Duluth, he lives in Prague and teaches at Charles University.