Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in New York’s Post

It has been highlighted that the majority of #ChineseTourists are opting for destinations within Asia for their summer travels. Despite the allure of major European events such as the UEFA European Soccer Championship in #Germany and the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, which have slightly boosted Europe’s appeal, Asia remains the preferred choice. This preference is largely attributed to the convenience offered by visa-free policies available to Chinese citizens in several Asian countries. https://lnkd.in/dQXG4pnM #SummerOlympics #UEFA #ASIA #Europe

Give this a read!!

The second workshop of the 🌟 Sports as Value #ErasmusPlus project is underway in Sarajevo, 🇧🇦, hosted by the Olympic Committee of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Learn more about this EU Balkan initiative and its main activities 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dQy8Fs_t #SportsAsValue

Turkish Rugby League Developments Discussed in Landmark Meeting with Aiden Sezer & Gurol Yildiz TRL President! In a significant stride towards fostering international sports diplomacy, a recent meeting between Aiden Sezer & Gurol Yildiz TRL President has sparked optimism for the development of the game in both Australia and Turkiye. The discussions revolved around strategies to promote the sport within the Turkish community and enhance its presence on the global stage. #aidansezer #gurolyildiz #trla #nrl #rugbyleague #turkiye #australia

In this piece published by USC Center on Public Diplomacy, Aparna Sridhar and I look back at India's successful stint of hosting the Cricket World Cup. As a host nation, India got many things right, but how does it translate into building India's sports soft power? We discuss some of those aspects in this article. https://lnkd.in/gEXUcbHb

With the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™ rounding up in a couple of days, the question of why countries host this sporting event arises once again. There are two arguments; on one side, the arguments are often that the event will be too expensive and that the potential for re-use of the facilities is insufficient to justify the construction of the costly venues. Those on the other side argue that the event would stimulate economic activity, increase export revenues (e.g., from tourism), create positive publicity for the country, and lead to economic growth and increased domestic and foreign investment levels. In this article, I answered the question. https://lnkd.in/djyJb3R2

An interesting article to understand how China, and now Saudi Arabia use sport and Stadium as part of diplomacy. Coliseum Global Sports Venue Alliance - I would add the Stade Général Lansana Conté of Conakry, Guinea, which was "offered" by the Chinese to the government. It's interesting to look what has came up with it. #stadium #sport #sportbusiness #football #africa

I agree with much of what Earl Cochrane wrote in his article for The Hub Canada, which underscores sport as a powerful tool of soft power, offering middle-power countries like Canada an opportunity to influence perceptions and achieve strategic objectives beyond their traditional means. These ideas echo a 2018 brief I wrote for Canada Soccer, where I was asked to lay out the benefits of launching a new men's professional league. I argued that given football's broad global appeal, it could not only enhance Canada's on-field sporting achievements but also provide an opportunity to significantly boost the country’s global engagement and influence by creating new avenues for cultural exchange, economic diplomacy, and geopolitical relevance. Here’s a excerpt from the brief: --- FOOTBALL, THE SHARPEST INSTRUMENT OF SOFT POWER In addition to conveying a clear message that Canada is no longer willing to accept the current malaise and is ready to move beyond its amateur approach to football, the launch of a new men's professional-league (and the resulting improvement in the country's national team program) represents a potent vehicle for future Canadian diplomacy. In recent times, the criteria for power in international affairs have undergone profound changes. Without delving into the typology of power, it can be briefly stated that traditional forms of power, known as "hard power" (ability to coerce), are increasingly being combined with "soft power" (ability to attract and persuade) for countries to achieve their foreign policy goals. Sport, particularly football due to its near-universal appeal, serves as a perfect instrument of soft power. It enables countries to engage with the world, communicate a set of values they seek to uphold, project an image they desire others to have of them, and gain access to resources and markets globally. China is just the latest among many to recognize that football is more than a game. The country has recently sought greater international recognition and participation in global development by linking soft power, national status, and football. Canada has long been viewed as distinctive, even exceptional, in its passion for hockey. However, at a time when the country is compelled to explore opportunities beyond the US due to the isolationist policies of the Trump Administration, it is football, not hockey, that represents Canada's best chance to build new international alliances. The benefits Canada stands to gain from greater engagement in football are potentially significant and far-reaching. They include tangible benefits such as access to new markets, improved trade relations, enhanced national security, and strengthened environmental protection. Additionally, they offer intangible advantages such as stronger personal relationships, conducive environments for diplomacy and business negotiations, and improved understanding and trust. But it all begins with Canada having its own professional league first.

Did you know that during the 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia, the influx of international football fans boosted the country's economy by a whopping $14.5 billion? ⚽💰 That's equivalent to 1.1% of Russia's GDP! Talk about a goal for sports tourism! 🌍🏆 This just goes to show the immense impact that global sporting events have on host countries. Not only do they bring together people from all walks of life to celebrate a shared love for sport, but they also stimulate the local economy in a big way. 🎉🤝 From tourism to infrastructure, these events can be a significant economic driver. So, next time you're cheering on your favorite team, remember that you're also contributing to a much bigger picture! 🏟️📈 #SportsTourism #EconomicImpact #FIFAWorldCup #GlobalEvents #SportsEconomy

Goodness gracious me!   There's the easy way, the hard way, and then there's the England way. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿   Slovakia, ranked 45th in the world, came within a whisker of an almighty shock, only to be denied by a Jude Bellingham bicycle kick five minutes into stoppage time to send the match into extra-time. That was swiftly followed by a Harry Kane header 52 seconds into the restart.   We held on for the 2–1 win, but why do we make it so hard for ourselves?   We were poor today.   We were poor against Slovenia.   We were poor against Denmark.   We were poor against Serbia.   Oh, and we were poor in the 1–0 loss against Iceland in the final warm-up match — a country with under 400,000 people.   Nevertheless, it's Switzerland next.   We're really going to have to start finding some form if we're going to progress further.   It ain't been good enough thus far.   #ENG #ENGSVK #Euro2024