Meridian Celebrates the Power of Sports Diplomacy to Inspire Global Unity with the Embassy of France

Sports play a crucial role in diplomacy, serving as a catalyst for inclusive global economic development, cross-cultural understanding, and equitable empowerment for athletes and spectators around the world. There is no event that better exemplifies the spirit of international collaboration in sports than the Olympic Games.

On the eve of the 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony, Meridian partnered with the Embassy of France to host a reception to discuss the role of the Olympics and sports diplomacy in forging stronger diplomatic ties, community engagement, and inspiring global unity. His Excellency Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the U.S., welcomed guests to the Résidence de France for the program, a continuation of Meridian’s Global Sports Diplomacy Initiative, which celebrates the power of sports as a vehicle for diplomacy, economic development, and cross-cultural understanding.

The reception featured a panel discussion moderated by Ambassador Stuart Holliday, Chief Executive Officer at Meridian International Center, including:

• Dan Mickelson, Sports Diplomacy Chief, U.S. Department of State
• Damion Thomas, Museum Curator of Sports and Interim Assistant Director of Culture, Smithsonian Museum of African American History and Culture
• Mark Erdly, Cities and Urban Design Practice Leader, Gensler

Here are some top takeaways from the program:

1. “The greenest building is one that is already built” – Carl Elefante, Former President of the American Institute of Architects.

Elefante’s innovative words are being put into practice at Paris 2024: by reusing existing sports facilities or building temporary structures for 95 percent of the competitions, the city is halving carbon emissions in comparison to the last two iterations of the summer games. Paris is setting a groundbreaking new standard for sustainability in the Olympic Games, not only in terms of sustainable architecture, but also community engagement. Structures that are being built for the games, such as the Olympic Village and the Aquatics Center in Saint-Denis, were designed with environmental sustainability as a priority and a commitment to long-term community benefits such as jobs, housing, and access to athletic facilities for underserved communities.

2. What happens off the field is just as important as what happens on the field.

From the Olympic Games to a local soccer match, sports promote unity and engage communities around the world. In an era of complex global challenges, the convening power of sports is more important than ever. Panelists highlighted the impressive ability of the Olympics to bring together international leaders for conversations that may not have otherwise happened, pointing to the spirit of peace and unity in the United Nations’ efforts to urge nations to respect the Olympic Truce during the course of the Games, as well as the historic roots of the Olympics as a forum for political exchange in Ancient Greece.

3. “Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on joy found in effort, the educational value of a good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles,” – Pierre de Coubertin.

The words of Pierre de Coubertin, French educator, historian, and most notably, the father of the modern Olympics, embody the spirit of sports diplomacy. Through convenings like the Olympics, the world can come together and reflect on shared values, creating an avenue for social change. The Games provide an international platform to reflect on what ideals the Olympics represent and identify ways the world can better live up to those principles. By comparing Olympic values to these realities, athletes and spectators alike can push themselves to do better.

4. The Olympics serve as a benchmark for social progress.

When Paris hosted the 1924 Olympics, 3 percent of athletes were female – a century later, the city is hosting the first Olympic Games in history to achieve full gender parity. Panelists discussed the past and present of women’s sports, and the ways in which the Olympics allow nations to reflect on social change in many areas, as athletes are provided with a platform to amplify movements for social change in their home country.

5. Youth athletes are the future of sports diplomacy.

Supporting infrastructure and accessibility to sports for young people is essential to preparing the next generation of future leaders around the world. Particularly in under-resourced communities, affordability presents a growing barrier to access for youth sports. The U.S. government is committed to this goal, with domestic plans to increase the participation of children and adolescents in sports to 63 percent by 2030 and international programs aimed at youth sports engagement around the world. The Olympics promote efforts to engage communities around the globe, particularly their youngest members, in the impactful world of international sports.