The domestic dimension of sports diplomacy

Abstract

Sports diplomacy is a tool of foreign policy. Similarly to public diplomacy, for which sports diplomacy is a sub-category, it may also have a domestic dimension. The objective of the research was to overview key types of sports diplomacy activities pursued by governments from the perspective of their internal political significance and to answer the research question whether sports diplomacy may be used to influence the domestic public. The hypothesis to be verified within the research stated that sports diplomacy, despite being a foreign policy tool, is not separated from the internal policy.
The research allowed for confirmation of the hypothesis. It has been observed that both sports diplomacy directed at shaping relations with other countries and at influencing the international image of a state, apart from their external dimensions, also have an effect on the domestic public. It may be about testing the society’s willingness and readiness for a change in the state of relations with another country or might be connected with creating national unity.