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Ours has always been a sports-crazed world. The ancient Persians delighted in polo, the “game of kings,” and the Native Americans were the first to enjoy the fast-paced sport of lacrosse. At the zenith of their power, the ancient Egyptians developed the earliest form of fencing. Today, athletic competition has the ability to demonstrate the triumph of the human psyche and to transform an entire nation into an unbridled state of jubilation. Similarly, the international tensions and conflicts that plague mankind are played out on the battlefield of sport. Match Point: Sports, Nationalism, and Diplomacy explores how the physical—and political—games we play indeed reflect the challenges that shape our world. Victor Cha provides the backdrop for this Forum by discussing the influence of sport on the nation-state. In a timely piece on South Africa, Derek Catsam examines how the country has harnessed the power of sport to facilitate the process of racial and national reconciliation. Junwei Yu argues that the 2009 World Games in Taiwan served not only to strengthen the island’s national consciousness but also to expand its “diplomatic breathing space” while seeking creative solutions to the cross-Strait dilemma. Finally, Thomas Garofalo explains how “baseball diplomacy” can help mend the rift between the United States and Cuba. However, this issue also devotes attention to a host of other contests whose exposition lies far beyond the stadium. The Law and Ethics section features two prominent articles regarding the battle over medical marijuana, from both medical and legal perspectives. The Journal also highlights the international response to the humanitarian crisis and “human wrongs” situation in North Korea. Moreover, 9/11 Commission Executive Director Philip Zelikow discusses the ongoing threat of terrorism, the detainment of enemy combatants and the Guantanamo Bay prison, and the ways in which the United States can regain its positive standing in the international community. Despite the challenges that confront our rapidly changing world, it is comforting to know that there will always be another scrimmage, another match, and another chance at achieving victory. We hope that this issue of the Georgetown Journal of International Affairs entertains and informs our readership at home, in the workplace, and even on the pitch.