For a number of reasons I am pleased that Elmar has asked me to write a foreword to this volume, which assembles together a number of pieces that he wrote over the course of the decade between 1997 and 2007. The first reason is that it gives me the opportunity to thank him for the work he has carried out so conscientiously and ably in his role as an economist working for the BIS. I would, however, be remiss if I did not also thank him for his earlier efforts, contributing in particular to the statistical output of the MED, and also the broader contribution he made as president of the Sports...