Bruce Berglund

Historian and author of The Moscow Playbook, specializing in Soviet and Russian sports history and their intersection with politics and international sport governance.

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Jan 10, 2026 • 1h 3min

Bruce Berglund, "The Moscow Playbook: How Russia Used, Abused, and Transformed Sports in the Hunt for Power" (Triumph Books, 2026)

Bruce Berglund, a historian and author specializing in Soviet and Russian sports history, discusses how sports have been leveraged as a political tool in Russia for over two decades. He explores Putin's strategies to foster nationalism through sports, the manipulation of Olympic scoring by Soviet officials, and the extensive corruption surrounding the Sochi 2014 Games. The conversation also covers the intricate relationship between sports and politics, revealing how doping scandals and sanctions reflect a broader narrative of power and legitimacy in Russia.

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