Ben-Gurion University of the Negev Founds Sports Diplomacy Research Center

Qatar gained international status after hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, while 'ping-pong diplomacy' initially warmed US-China relations, and the NBA has spread American culture worldwide. More and more countries understand the role of sport in the international diplomatic arena as a means of promoting values and interests. Now, with the establishment of the Center for Sports Diplomacy (CSD), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev is making a major commitment to study the role of sport in diplomacy that challenges traditional state-centered approaches and sheds light on a wide range of relevant fields of knowledge. This interdisciplinary center will focus on the impact of sports in international relations, political science, management, communications, emergency medicine, cultural diplomacy, and public diplomacy.

"Sports are another basis for policy branding to change and improve the image of countries," noted Prof. Sharon Pardo, who will head the research center. "We see more and more countries using sports to promote their values and interests. Against the background of current events, this is another dimension that could help Israeli diplomacy."

Prof. Pardo, a faculty member in the Department of Politics and Government and President of the Israeli Association for International Studies, explains: "Sport inspires and unites people. It has the power to change reality. Sports diplomacy is the conscious, strategic and ongoing use of sports, athletes and sporting events by states and non-state entities to promote policy, trade, development, education, public health, image, reputation, branding and relationships between people."

The Center is planning to hold an annual international conference to showcase its research; represent Ben-Gurion University of the Negev at international conferences and foster and promote research collaborations in Israel and around the world. University researchers from different fields of knowledge will collaborate to conduct joint cross-disciplinary research. In fact, the center will serve as a bridge for transferring knowledge, promoting, and deepening the study of sports diplomacy in Israel and around the world, and will work in cooperation with researchers, diplomats, athletes, sports institutions, regulators, and civil society organizations from Israel and around the world.

"Ben-Gurion University has always emphasized the impactful research that arises from the juxtaposition of seemingly diverse fields. By bringing together sports and culture with international relations and policy, our new center will shed light on the influence of sport on global relations and position the University as a leader in this growing field," noted Prof. Daniel Chamovitz, President of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.