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| (Photo: Flickr amsr1) |
The
present geopolitical situation is significantly tense due to nuclear tests of North Korea. Even though,
latest events on the Korean peninsula are topic number one at the United
Nations Security Council, there is still a small chance
of improving this issue via sport diplomacy. A few weeks ago, South Korean President
Moon Jae-in, said that North Korea will be given time to decide whether it will
take part at the Winter
Olympics 2018 in South
Korea’s Pyongchang or not. What is more,
North Korea could be involved at the forthcoming Olympic Games although its
athletes would not have met the qualification standards. Isn't it
captivating that in such these comprehensive political standoffs could sport be
the potential solution?
Do not be surprised – term sport diplomacy does not
have any codified or comprehensive definition therefore it is hard to clearly
categorize it. It is often seen as part of public or cultural diplomacy but
equating them would deprive sport diplomacy of its distinct ways and
peculiarities. From a
political point of view, sport diplomacy can be understood as managed and
targeted communication in cases where interested parties are willing to solve
international problems of a political nature through sport.
What’s
fascinating about sport diplomacy is that factors such as the state regime or
establishment are often receded into the background. Sport visibly affects
opinions on individual states in the world. In many cases, sport is apolitical
force through which actors try to influence international relations.
There are
several concrete examples when sport diplomacy improved relations between the
states that had conflict. In 1971, "Ping-pong
diplomacy" noticeably improved relations between the United States of
America and China. In this case, table tennis became a starting lane for the
beginning of the establishment of diplomatic relations between two mentioned
states with utterly different political administrations. At that time, few
months earlier, this would have been seen as infeasible. Another example is "Hockey diplomacy." This term
reflects series of 8 ice hockey matches between Canada and the Union of Soviet
Socialist Republics in year 1972, during the Cold War. Again, relations between
two states with different political regimes were improved. In 2011, relations
between Pakistan and India were eased also through the "Cricket diplomacy" which improved the bilateral
geopolitical relations.
The examples of
sport diplomacy in practical terms are also can be seen at the Olympic Games,
during which politically divided nations have been marching under one Olympic
flag. These were the cases of the United Team of Germany at the opening
ceremonies of the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Rome (1960) and Tokyo
(1964). Another example occurred at the Olympic Games in Sydney 2000 and Athens
2004, where teams from North and South Korea also presented themselves at the
opening ceremony under the Korean Unification Flag.
In case of the
2016 Olympic Games in Rio, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) created
the 10-member Refugee Olympic Team with the same status as all other National
Olympic Committees. The goal of the IOC was to deliver universal message of
raising the awareness of refugees in need. This was a demonstration of how
sport can be used to spread human values and solidarity in society. If sport is
used in the right way it can create social inclusion and ease the tension in
many international situations.
Sport and
politics are also mixed together. In February this year, there was the battle
of leadership in the Conservative Party of Canada. During one televised debate
in Edmonton (Alberta), only one amongst other thirteen candidates Rick Peterson,
has been wearing ice hockey jersey with number 97 of the NHL team
Edmonton Oilers. Originally it´s a jersey worn by young Canadian ice hockey
star Connor McDavid. This was meant to help bring sympathies of audience and
potential votes to this candidate by effort to associate himself with admired
ice hockey player.
Unfortunately,
link between politics and sport had also negative connotations throughout the
history. Politics have been seen as either interfering with sport or as a
cover-up for the political situation in the country.
In 1978, the
football World Cup was held in Argentina. Although Argentinians won the whole
tournament for the first time, it did not musk the severe reality of then
social situation. Outside the football pitches, the military government
(junta), was set up and had been causing brutal reprisals against the political
and human rights.
Aside from
disgusting abuse of the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin by Hitler's Nazi
propaganda, there are more examples of how sport and politics were linked
together during the Olympic Games. An illustration of this were events where
the U. S. government has forced National Olympic Committee of the USA to
boycott 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow. Subsequently, the same decision was
made by government of Soviet Union four years later – the boycott of the 1984
Summer Olympics in Los Angeles was declared.
The real reason of boycotts was the political tension typical for Cold War
bipolar world.
This summer, Hungary hosted the World Judo Championships and the International Swimming
Federation championships and also tried to apply for hosting 2024 Olympic Games
(the bid was later withdrawn).
"Apart from the FIFA World Cup, which is another matter, there’s no major
world event that is beyond Budapest’s capabilities," Hungarian Prime
Minister Viktor Orbán said. By year 2020, the government of Hungary will have
invested quite large amounts of money for sport infrastructure (building or
renovation of more than 30 football stadiums). But all magic comes with a
price, in this case – the cost of approximately €709 million. Not all
Hungarians share enthusiasm for spending on sport projects though and such this
spending see as burden to economy. In general, engagement of the state´s
government through the sport for its ambition to shaping its international recognition
is perceived variously.
The matter of
fact is that sport is the social phenomenon and also universal language which
the whole global society is speaking with. Even against differences which are
present in society, sport has a potential to solve complex problems which cross
the border of one state. Complicated language of politicians and diplomats can
be easily misunderstood but the feelings of victory achieved in winning match
are universal and well known to almost everybody.
From what has
been written I would like to make two conclusions – A single football match itself will not provide world peace. But
sport can be a stepping-stone or catalyst for building the meaningful
political dialogue or even for the establishment of diplomatic relations
between states, where politics failed.
Mário Kvanka
GLOBSEC Policy Institute
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