This bill, titled the "American Decade of Sports Act," mandates the creation of a strategic framework to utilize major international sporting events hosted in the United States from 2024 to 2034. The primary goal is to enhance United States soft power , strengthen diplomatic relationships , and bolster global leadership through sports diplomacy. This initiative recognizes the significant opportunity presented by events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The legislation requires the Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs to submit an initial 5-year sports diplomacy strategy within 120 days of enactment, with a subsequent strategy due five years later. These strategies must outline diplomatic objectives, plans for partnerships with host cities, the sports industry, and civil society, and internal coordination within the Department of State to integrate sports diplomacy into various foreign policy efforts. Key elements include leveraging sports for public and commercial diplomacy, ensuring expeditious visa processing for athletes and visitors, and detailing necessary financial and personnel support. Furthermore, the bill renames the Department of State's sports diplomacy division as the Office of Sports Diplomacy within 90 days, placing it under the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges. This office will be responsible for managing sports diplomacy exchange programs and implementing the strategies by coordinating across bureaus, engaging host communities, and fostering partnerships with the U.S. sports industry. The Secretary of State must assign at least three additional full-time staff to this office until December 31, 2034, and submit annual reports on the strategy's implementation to Congress.
This bill, titled the "American Decade of Sports Act," mandates the creation of a strategic framework to utilize major international sporting events hosted in the United States from 2024 to 2034. The primary goal is to enhance United States soft power , strengthen diplomatic relationships , and bolster global leadership through sports diplomacy. This initiative recognizes the significant opportunity presented by events like the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The legislation requires the Assistant Secretary for Educational and Cultural Affairs to submit an initial 5-year sports diplomacy strategy within 120 days of enactment, with a subsequent strategy due five years later. These strategies must outline diplomatic objectives, plans for partnerships with host cities, the sports industry, and civil society, and internal coordination within the Department of State to integrate sports diplomacy into various foreign policy efforts. Key elements include leveraging sports for public and commercial diplomacy, ensuring expeditious visa processing for athletes and visitors, and detailing necessary financial and personnel support. Furthermore, the bill renames the Department of State's sports diplomacy division as the Office of Sports Diplomacy within 90 days, placing it under the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges. This office will be responsible for managing sports diplomacy exchange programs and implementing the strategies by coordinating across bureaus, engaging host communities, and fostering partnerships with the U.S. sports industry. The Secretary of State must assign at least three additional full-time staff to this office until December 31, 2034, and submit annual reports on the strategy's implementation to Congress.