Since its creation the British Olympic Association (BOA) has been one of the most important institutions in sports governance. In spite of its prominence there has hitherto been no single-volume history of the Association. This scholarly yet accessible study fills that gap, assessing the origins, evolution, strengths and shortcomings of the BOA.

Kevin Jefferys is Professor of Contemporary History at Plymouth University, UK. He has published widely on aspects of modern British political and social history, and his most recent book Sport and Politics in Modern Britain (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012) won the Lord Aberdare prize for sport history books, 2013.