American Decade of Sports Act
Summary
The American Decade of Sports Act would direct the State Department to develop a comprehensive sports diplomacy strategy to leverage major international sporting events being hosted in the United States between 2024 and 2034. These events include the 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, 2031 Men's and 2033 Women's Rugby World Cups, and 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The bill aims to enhance U.S. soft power and global leadership by using these sporting events as opportunities for diplomatic engagement.
If enacted, the bill would establish an independent Office of Sports Diplomacy within the State Department, elevating it from its current status as a division within another office. The office would be staffed with at least three additional employees and would be responsible for coordinating sports diplomacy efforts across relevant State Department bureaus and working with host cities to identify new opportunities for engagement with foreign entities. The bill would also require the State Department to submit annual reports to Congress on the implementation of the sports diplomacy strategy, the restructuring of the office, and staffing assignments.