Kamlager-Dove, McCaul Lead Bipartisan Letter Urging the State Department to Implement a Robust Sports Diplomacy Strategy Ahead of the American Decade of Sports

WASHINGTON, DC — Yesterday, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37) and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (TX-10) led 53 bipartisan lawmakers in a letter to Secretary Blinken urging the State Department to put sports diplomacy at the forefront of our diplomatic strategy as the U.S. gears up to host seven major international competitions over the next ten years: the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games, the 2031 Men’s and 2033 Women’s Rugby World Cup, and the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. 

“Sports diplomacy is a valuable tool for strengthening international relationships and promoting development. It recognizes sports as a universal language capable of uniting people and creating new avenues of connection between countries and societies. Sports also unlock economic opportunities for communities around the world, supporting a variety of development goals,” the lawmakers wrote.

The members continued, “The upcoming decade of sports provides the needed impetus to elevate sports diplomacy to the forefront of our diplomatic strategy. The LA28 Olympics and other major sporting events bring unparalleled international attention that magnifies the cultural power of the host nation for generations. This spotlight provides the United States a singular opportunity to show the world the values of freedom, democracy, and opportunity that should underpin American leadership on the world stage. The influx of foreign visitors and officials also presents a unique chance to forge new diplomatic ties and people-to-people connections.

“We are committed to supporting the State Department’s sports diplomacy strategy with the necessary tools and resources. We respectfully request that your response includes the kinds of financial and personnel support the State Department needs to fully actualize the foreign policy benefits of the upcoming American decade of sports,” the lawmakers concluded.

Sports diplomacy is poised to become one of the most important tools in our foreign policy toolbox as the upcoming American decade of sports presents an unparalleled opportunity to cement U.S. soft power leadership on the world stage. This letter demonstrates deep bipartisan support for a robust sports diplomacy strategy that will enable the U.S. to reap the diplomatic dividends of the mega-decade of sports.

In addition to Rep. Kamlager-Dove and Chairman McCaul, the letter was signed by Reps. Amo (RI-01), Baird (IN-04), Barragán (CA-44), Bera (CA-06), Brownley (CA-26), Cárdenas (CA-29), Castor (FL-14), Castro (TX-20), Cherfilus-McCormick (FL-20), Chu (CA-28), Clarke (NY-09), Cleaver (MO-05), Costa (CA-21), Crockett (TX-30), Crow (CO-06), DeGette (CO-01), Garcia (CA-42), Goldman (NY-10), Gomez (CA-34), Gottheimer (NJ-05), Grijalva (AZ-07), Huizenga (MI-04), Jackson (IL-01), Johnson (GA-04), Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Keating (MA-09), Kim (NJ-03), Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), LaHood (IL-16), Larsen (WA-02), Lieu (CA-36), Malliotakis (NY-11), Manning (NC-06), McCaul (TX-10), Moylan (GU), Mullin (CA-15), Napolitano (CA-31), Obernolte (CA-23), Quigley (IL-05), Radewagen (AS), Salazar (FL-27), Salinas (OR-06), Sánchez (CA-38), Schiff (CA-30), Sherman (CA-32), Sherrill (NJ-11), Stanton (AZ-04), Swalwell (CA-14), Titus (NV-01), Tokuda (HI-02), Torres (CA-35), Valadao (CA-22), Waters (CA-43), Williams (GA-05), Wilson (FL-24). 

The full letter can be found here.

###