The importance of Sports Diplomacy

 

Diplomatic matters tend to be the interest of those within political positions, those within government and those who are heads of states, as well as those who report and cover the news in regard to political matters. However, not much interest is taken in regard to the relationship between sports and diplomacy. Is sports diplomacy really important? Is it something that is of great interest?

Many might disregard that there even is such a thing as sports diplomacy. But sports diplomacy has never been so important as it currently is today. The aim goes as far as to attempt to leave hostility and dislike off the ‘playground’, and to blind the differences between one another. Unfortunately, it is not always the case.

One of the most widely reported issue in regard to sports today would be Colin Kaepernick, football player the United States of America, who chose to kneel down rather than stand during the national anthem. There had been much debate in regard to whether Kaepernick was right in doing this. However, many other team members followed. Kaepernick’s motives were to gain awareness for the mistreatment and racial abuse experienced by those in the black community.

 

However, his actions led to his dismissal from the NFL, and very harsh words from President Donald Trump. It has also now been made official, that any or those who wish to not stand during the national anthem, be kept within the locker rooms and off the pitch; any kneeling face penalties. When sports is to bring one another together, it seems to be driving people away from each other. Team members however, will always be supportive, whether they themselves want to be personally involved or not which shows how diplomacy within sports is something that can still be achieved.

The 2008 football match between Armenia and Turkey resulted in the drowning out of the national anthem for Turkey, and many Armenians chanting against them, however, despite this, the President of Turkey, and Prime Minister if Armenia were both able to sit together in the box, and continue viewing the match, as a gesture of goodwill.

Sports plays a large role within the lives of many; the place where people go to in order to do and enjoy what they love, without having to worry about political matters or racial matters. The importance of sports diplomacy is great, and will increase. Although it might seem at this moment that it is not doing much, it is important that it still exists. It is a tool which is consistently used, whether it might seem to look ineffective, it does have some effects in different ways along the way.

 

References:

• Why the sports world can’t handle Kaepernick – https://sports.vice.com/en_us/article/yp89bw/why-the-sports-world-cant-handle-colin-kaepernicks-protest , (Accessed 03.05.18)
• Sports diplomacy; Armenia and Turkey -https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/sep/05/turkey.armenia (Accessed 03/05/18)
• Denied for expressing personal beliefs – https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/mar/22/colin-kaepernick-blacklisted-history-sports , (Accessed 03/05/18)