A new game plan for Australian sports diplomacy

The Australia's Sports Diplomacy Strategy 2032+, released today, provides a new game plan for how Australian sports can be used to strengthen Australia's national power.

The Australian Government and Australia's sporting organisations both face a more complex and consequential international environment than at any time in living memory.

Australia's international reputation for sporting excellence and the success of our athletes around the world creates both opportunities and challenges in this new international environment.

Australia's new sports diplomacy strategy recognises sports as an important source of national power in Australia's foreign policy and gives Australian sporting organisations access to the advice and expertise they need for success on the international stage.

Developed with input from Australia's sport sector, Australia's Sports Diplomacy Strategy 2032+ establishes the framework for close collaboration between the Australian Government and the sport sector, emphasising that sports diplomacy is a team effort that works best when we work together.

The strategy sets out a refreshed vision and new goals for Australia's sports diplomacy to ensure we capitalise on the increased international interest in Australian sporting excellence during the 'green and gold decade' of major sporting events hosted on Australian soil leading up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The new strategy:

• Focuses our efforts on our own region, the Indo-Pacific
• Builds Australian sport as a source of national power
• Projects Australia's modern identity through sports
• Promotes Australian values, like gender equity and disability inclusion
• Strengthens integrity frameworks for international sports.

It will also position us to deepen people-to-people ties, community links, and understanding between Australians and our closest neighbours.

The new strategy ensures Australia's sports diplomacy approach aligns with Sport Horizon, the new National Sport Strategy for 2024-2034.

Quote attributable to Minister for the Pacific and International Development, the Hon Pat Conroy MP:

"Australia is proud to be part of the Pacific family and sport is a powerful way to strengthen ties between the people throughout the region. The more we understand and relate to each other, the more safe, stable and prosperous our region will be.

"This strategy is critical to advancing Australia's national interest in contributing to a safe, stable and prosperous region."

Quote attributable to Minister for Sport, the Hon Anika Wells MP

"Sport is one our greatest diplomatic tools as it brings cultures, communities and nations together and now we have the forward plan to ensure we can make the most our love of sport.

"Sport is a social cohesion amplifier and the lead up to Brisbane 2032 creates unprecedented opportunities to engage with the world through sport."

Quote attributable to Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Tim Watts MP

"In the current international environment, the Australian governments needs to use all sources of national power in our engagement with the world. This strategy gives us the game plan Australia needs to succeed in Sports Diplomacy.

"Australia's Sports Diplomacy Strategy 2032+ will ensure we capitalise on the opportunities presented by our 'green and gold decade' as we head towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games."

"The Strategy will also ensure Australia's sport sector is well informed and equipped to navigate the changing and increasingly complex global environment."