This bill, the American Decade of Sports Act, directs the Secretary of State to create and run a sports diplomacy plan tied to major international sporting events held in the United States from 2024 through 2034. The listed events include the 2024 Copa America, 2025 Club World Cup, 2026 FIFA World Cup, 2028 Summer Olympics and Paralympics, the 2031 Men's and 2033 Women's Rugby World Cups, and the 2034 Winter Olympics and Paralympics.
The bill requires the Department of State to submit a 5-year sports diplomacy strategy within 180 days of enactment and again 5 years later. Each strategy must describe diplomatic goals and success metrics; plans to work with host cities, diaspora communities, athletes, the sports industry, arts creators, private sector groups, human rights organizations, and civil society; internal coordination across State Department bureaus; ways to use sports in public and commercial diplomacy; a plan to speed and secure visa processing for eligible international visitors, athletes, and staff; and the financial and personnel support needed to carry out the strategy. Strategies must be posted on the Department of State website.
The bill renames the Sports Diplomacy Division as the Office of Sports Diplomacy and assigns it responsibility for managing sports diplomacy exchanges and implementing the strategies. The Office must coordinate with internal and interagency partners, host cities, trade and tourism offices, diaspora groups, sports leagues and athletes, and cultural creators. The Secretary of State must assign at least three additional full-time equivalent staff to the Office from 180 days after enactment until December 31, 2034. The Secretary must consult with relevant congressional committees before submitting each strategy and then report on implementation every 180 days and provide annual implementation reports through December 31, 2034.
The bill requires the Department of State to assign at least 3 additional full-time equivalent staff to the Office of Sports Diplomacy and to describe the financial and personnel support needed in each strategy. No publicly available information on estimated costs or budget figures is provided in the bill text or metadata.
The bill states its purpose is to "strategically leverage the major sporting events... to enhance United States soft power, diplomatic relationships, and global leadership." That language reflects the bill's stated rationale for creating a focused sports diplomacy strategy and office.
No publicly available information.