How strange that Australia, in its efforts to strengthen relations with Southeast Asia, has largely ignored one of its most effective diplomatic tools: sport.
The country's expertise in sports diplomacy and development can be used to generate trade and investment, build national and personal relationships, and help engage Southeast Asian citizens at both elite and community levels. And you should.
Grant Jarvie, Head of Sport at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Nothing opens the door like sport.'' It helps overcome alienation, transcend politics, change stereotypes, and foster informal diplomacy.
Its value in Southeast Asia becomes even clearer when we remember that good business and political relations there, as elsewhere in Asia, are built on friendship. And many Southeast Asian business leaders and politicians also serve on the boards of clubs and international governing bodies.
However, at the special summit meeting of 11 ASEAN and Australia countries held in Melbourne from March 4th to 6th, there was almost no mention of sport, and it was not even mentioned at all by countries around the world. declaration Published at the end of the meeting. Yes, this conference focused on business and investing, but within that scope it was also worth discussing sports. In Australia, sport generated 0.8% of gross domestic product in 2016-17, the last time it was measured.
The word “sport” appears twice in Nicholas Moore's 200-page report on Australia's economic strategy in Southeast Asia, released in September. The report focuses on high-income tourists, saying: “The 'Green and Gold Decade' of major sporting events, culminating with the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, will encourage further visits.” There is.
that's all? Should we use our greatest soft power asset, sport, to attract wealthy Asian tourists? This report focuses on the sports industry, sports business, sports technology, the federal government's sports diplomacy strategy, and how sports, music, the arts, and other soft power tools are undoubtedly essential to winning the hearts, minds, and wallets of Asia. There is no mention of the fact that it is important. .
Australia has led the world in both the theory and practice of sports diplomacy. The Australian Government has invested in two of her world-renowned initiatives in this area.pacific oath sports and team up. Most of our activities are in the Indo-Pacific region, where we have won numerous trophies over the past decade. The PacificAus Sports and Team Up programs have been very influential.
There are also examples of Australian sports diplomacy in Asia. Perhaps most importantly, Australia has moved from the Oceania Football Confederation to the Asian Football Confederation, which finally gives it a “significant sporting relationship” with the region, in the words of Asia Association Australia president Anthony Bubalo. It was done.
Smaller initiatives include Match Australia, a business networking program held on the sidelines of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup matches, and 720 Indonesian students having fun at Skate Jam 2014 hosted by the Australian Embassy. spent. From 2015 to 2017, the Asian Sports Partnership was his $4 million small-grants fund aimed at community development through sport in Asia. Approximately 8,000 participants participated in 17 sports from 15 countries, of whom 1,900 were disabled and approximately 70% were women.
So how should we improve the performance of sports diplomacy in Southeast Asia now? First, recognize that good sports diplomacy is about representing Australia. Government investment in ASEAN sports diplomacy should leverage the impressive network of Australian professionals already working, playing and learning across the region.
We need to design and measure key performance indicators and create a national game plan to maximize, harness and harness the power of Australian sport.
Low-hanging fruits are waiting to be harvested. Bringing Papua New Guinea's Hunters into Australia's National Rugby League, supporting Indonesia in its bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics, and helping Vietnam revive F1 racing are obvious moves.
There is a need to collaborate with federal and state agencies that are already using sport to achieve a variety of objectives in the Indo-Pacific region. Failure to do so may result in duplication of efforts and confusion for those receiving support.
The multi-billion Australian sports industry needs to get involved. Like our athletes, many of our products, businesses and people who work in the field are world class. As Rudyard Kipling said, sports are not just “games played by muddy fools and fools in flannel.” It's a serious and valuable industry.
Australia's sports diplomacy needs a captain. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade sought to coordinate other agencies in her two previous sports diplomacy strategies. The department, or other departments, will need to lead further efforts.
Governments could also support the creation of university centers with roles such as teaching relevant skills to sports diplomacy participants, such as the Indo-Pacific Sports Diplomacy Development Center and the Asian Sports Diplomacy Centre. It will serve as a center for research and conferences, as well as a champion of sports diplomacy.
Finally, it's important to take action. The stadium is not completely empty. China Daily Global notes that at the first ASEAN+China Sports Ministerial Meeting, all parties “agreed” that sports cooperation should be at the top of the agenda, including: He said he emphasized. [personnel] To promote bilateral exchanges and result-oriented cooperation in sports science research, technology application, and event management.
If we don't hurry, the fight for the hearts, minds and wallets of ASEAN sports will soon be lost.
Other players, including the Americans, Chinese and French, are already on the sports diplomacy pitch. Although our once enviable global strategy now looks a little outdated, it is essential that we translate the sporting power and brilliance of mega sporting events into something that truly applies and benefits the South East Asia region. Diplomats involved in sports might want to heed the advice of boxer Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao, one of Asia's greatest athletes. “What matters is not how hard you get hit, but how you get back up and keep moving forward.”
