The Inter-allied Games 1919: the role of US armed forces in the promotion of sport in the context of the First World War

Nowadays sports are a present phenomenon in the daily life of plenty of institutions all over the world and the Armed Forces have not been an exception in this global context. Throughout the twentieth century, not only have they systematically promoted sporting activities in their corporations, but they also organized major events, such as the Inter-Allied Games, held in 1919 as a celebration for the end of the First World War. This article aims to discuss, through the critical analysis of historical sources, the role of the US Armed Forces in the organization of this specific event and the main reasons for their doing so. Analyses have led to the perception that the promotion of the Inter-Allied Games as well and the good results achieved served as an instrument for the international projection of the US image in the new political context which emerged after the end of the war.