INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS OF ATHLETES: SPORTS DIPLOMACY, CROSS-CULTURAL EXCHANGE, AND TRANSNATIONAL COOPERATION
Keywords:
International relations of athletes, sports diplomacy, intercultural communication, international sports cooperation, athlete mobility, Olympic movement, athletes' rights, transnational networks.Abstract
This article examines the international relations of athletes, focusing on their contribution to sports diplomacy, intercultural communication, and transnational cooperation. It explores how international competitions, joint training programmes, professional athlete migration, and institutional partnerships influence sporting careers and relationships across national boundaries. The study employs a qualitative, literature-based approach, drawing on established scholarship in sports sociology, international relations, sport management, and cultural sport psychology. The analysis identifies several interconnected dimensions of athletes' international engagement: diplomatic interaction, professional mobility, intercultural adaptation, institutional representation, and ethical responsibility. Particular attention is given to the distinction between the symbolic visibility of athletes and their actual capacity to influence international cooperation. The findings suggest that meaningful international sporting relationships depend on reciprocal communication, equitable opportunities, institutional support, and the protection of athletes' rights. The article also considers the limitations of using sport as an instrument of diplomacy, especially when geopolitical tensions and structural inequalities influence access to international competition. Practical recommendations are proposed for strengthening sustainable athlete-centred cooperation.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially.
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.
Notices:
You do not have to comply with the license for elements of the material in the public domain or where your use is permitted by an applicable exception or limitation .
No warranties are given. The license may not give you all of the permissions necessary for your intended use. For example, other rights such as publicity, privacy, or moral rights may limit how you use the material.
