Australian Sports Diplomacy towards Asia-Take the Basketball Engagement as an Example
Menghu Xia, Ting Xia

University of New South Wales

Wuhan Sports University

Abstract

This study aims to analyse Australian sports diplomacy towards Asia. According to the sports diplomacy expert Dr Stuart Murray, ^Sports-diplomacy exchanges can promote international understanding and friendship, as well as dispel stereotypes and prejudices.^ Australia is an Oceanian state well-known for its sports excellence and culture. In view of its geographical location and history, Asian diplomacy has never been neglected or forgotten by the administrators since the land was colonized by Britain in 1788. Over the years, there is a clear trend that Australia is employing its sports diplomacy and increasingly engaging towards Asia. This study takes the Australian basketball engagement towards Asia as an example to attest its sports diplomacy towards Asia. Through reviewing Australian government official documents, academic literatures, and basketball initiatives towards Asian countries, the authors conclude that Australia is increasingly engaging with Asian basketball with its sports diplomacy. As a result, Australia have acquired better international reputations and international relations in Asia. Hence, the sports diplomacy has become an useful tool for Australia to exert soft power and enhance international relations in Asia.

Keywords: Sports diplomacy, Asia-Australia, Basketball

Topic: Sport, international relations, and diplomacy