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Feel The Power Of Sports Diplomacy |
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Volunteer Like A Diplomat
Athletes' Influence
Leaders As Citizen Diplomats
Etiquette In The Olympics
Sports Diplomacy Reading List |
Sports is a powerful vehicle for bridging gaps in understanding |
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Volunteer Like A DiplomatThe Missouri School of Journalism, the Beijing Org
Meanwhile, Chinese volunteers are prepared to be the best citizen diplomats for their own country as they great world wide visitors.
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Athletes' InfluenceThe athletes are the most important citizen diplomats for their countries during the Olympics.
Phelps even learned how to speak Chinese before he went to Beijing:
Ping pong diplomacy? Put down your paddles and practice your jump shots. When it comes to finding common ground between America and China, basketball is the new ping pong. |
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Leaders As Citizen DiplomatsThe choice that President Bush made to attend the 2008 Beijin
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Etiquette In The Olympics
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Sports Diplomacy Reading List“Beyond Ping-Pong Diplomacy” “Ripken to Visit South Africa in Envoy Role” “Sports Exchanges with Iran Build Bridges” “Takhti Cup Competition Strengthens U.S.-Iran Wrestling Ties” “United States Seeks to Engage the Iranian People” Olympics Through Time |
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cultures. In some ways it is one of the foremost vehicles to resolve social and ideological differences through a common interest and passion. No matter what the venue, sports can be a perfect citizen diplomacy tool for dialogue among citizens of different countries, as it tends to level the playing field of understanding and transcend traditional language and political barriers. In the 2008 Beijing Olympics, everyone can feel the power of sports diplomacy. Let's take a look at how the U.S. leaders, athletes and volunteers are practicing citizen diplomacy this summer in Beijing.
anizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) and Renmin University of China (RUC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding concerning a student volunteer project on August 23, 2007. Approximately sixty Missouri Journalism students departed for Beijing on July 1, 2008 to work as volunteer interns for the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games. This program promotes U.S.-China communications through volunteers' direct interaction with the people of China and other countries represented at the games: 
This year in Beijing, Micheal Phelps has created a positive image of America by being confident, humble, and demonstrating his closeness with his family. He raised huge interest from all over the world in swimming sports. Phelps serves as global ambassador for a program sponsored by a popular restaurant which brought together more than 300 children from around the world to experience the Olympic Games in the Chinese capital Beijing and interact with kids from around the globe. Learn more about Phelps as a cultural ambassador here:
g Olympics strengthened the U.S.-China relationships and eased differences between the two countries. His appearance at Olympic events, in addition to formal meetings with Chinese leaders, served to enhance America's image and bearing among the Chinese. 