African Union’s Post

#FridayInsight Lex sportiva, the body of international laws developed by sports authorities, serves as a foundation for para-diplomacy in the realm of sports governance. At its core, lex sportiva incorporates elements of para-diplomacy, enabling collaboration between national federations and non-state actors to promote the values of international sports movements. While the rules of lex sportiva are not directly incorporated into national sports laws, they serve as an obligation for national authorities and federations to harmonize their regulations with international standards. National federations are responsible for monitoring lex sportiva and integrating its principles into their internal legislation, ensuring consistency and alignment with global sports governance. In conclusion, lex sportiva, with its incorporation of para-diplomacy, provides a robust framework for international cooperation in sports. By embracing the principles of lex sportiva, national federations and non-state actors can work together to promote the values of international sports movements, foster ethical and fair competition, and contribute to the advancement of sports diplomacy on a global scale. #sportslaw #lexsportiva #sportsdiplomacy #paradiplomacy

Today marks the 30th anniversary of the memorable Olympics held in Lillehammer, Norway 🥇🇳🇴 I would wholeheartedly support hosting the Olympic Games in Norway again, provided there is a strong foundation of good governance💯 Thanks for the opportunity to speak at the Play The Game conference 2024 on how to improve good governance in sport. As the chair of the sports committee in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, it is interesting to see how governments are taking steps to combat corruption, promote transparency, and ensure independence in international sports💪 🎯The Council of Europe has already adopted clear demands. We have made several proposals, which I believe should be given renewed attention and could be useful for future work. I will just pick out two of them. ✅The first one is directed to public authorities: draft a Council of Europe convention on good governance in sport, which could complement the existing conventional basis covering doping, match-fixing and spectator violence, binding its member States by the observance of the same harmonised standards. ✅The second one is addressed to sports organisations, starting from the IOC: “to set up an independent sports ethics rating system, which should be created and operated by independent professional agencies”. The concrete solution suggested was – and remains – “the creation of an ISO certification standard on governance of sports organisations”, coupled with the establishment of an inclusive international multi-stakeholder platform or alliance, which could be responsible for monitoring, assistance and consultation. Many thanks for an inspiring conference and for the opportunity to meet with great sports enthusiasts from around the world👏👏 Jens Sejer Andersen Play the Game #PlayTheGame Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe #Sport #GoodGovernance #AntiDoping #EthicsInSport 📸: Thomas Søndergaard

2025 is shaping up to be a major year in the world of sports governance, with elections for the IOC, UCI, and many other federations. Of particular interest is the race for the IOC presidency, where seven candidates will compete for the top spot in March. Some come with strong sports backgrounds and extensive experience, yet their international visibility and engagement have been limited. This dynamic makes the race all the more unpredictable and exciting. It’s clear that the global sports community will be closely watching how this competitive election unfolds, as it will undoubtedly shape the future of international sport. #IOC #SportsLeadership #Election2025 #SportsGovernance #FutureOfSport

For all sports rankings enthusiasts, get to know more about the ICSPG's global rankings of countries in the sports realm. Keep track of Lebanon's ranking and advancement relative to other nations. https://rb.gy/5tcaai

Perfect time to reflect on what the European Sport Model is all about⬇️ The European Sport Model represents a framework that highlights the distinctive characteristics and principles shaping sports governance in Europe. It serves as a foundational guide for governing sports across the continent, fostering cooperation among national federations and aligning with wider European objectives. Its core principles include solidarity, inclusivity, good governance, fairness, integrity, and sustainability. The model operates in close collaboration with Lex Sportiva, sharing many of the same values and goals, and formalizes its commitments through partnerships with key sports organizations like UEFA. In essence, it acts as an overarching structure that unites and promotes positive values while standing against harmful practices in sport. Nice political initiative ✨

Great to see from U.S. Department of State and links three of my favourite topics - #diaspora, #diplomacy, and football! There is so much more that can be done through #sportsdiplomacy and #diasporaengagement. You just have to look at the philanthropic impact of leading diaspora sports stars not just in US but in the likes of the Premier League in UK. Even more so, did you know that sports team also have diasporas? They are their global fanbases and it is big business! I know this all too well as a fan of Tottenham Hotspur where going to games includes flights, hotels, tickets, and more! One of my favourite things to do at the games is to look at the list of players of each team on the back of the program and you see all their national flags shown too. Say this loudly - most elite sports organizations and leagues in today's sports industry would only be a small piece of what they are without diasporas! That aside, we must begin to do more to bed the diaspora discussion more in the sports industry and sports diplomacy is such a strategic and smart way to do it. One for you Gavin Price! Onwards.

Why are civilians dying? Because 1. Hamas terrorists have built underground tunnels as bunkers for themselves and they don't allow civilians inside. 2. Hamas broke ceasefire & indulged in genocide with rocket bombs & bullets and vicious crimes. That triggered war. 3. They use Hostsges and Gazans as Human shields. 4. Not all civilians are innocent, as Hamas has Doctors, Journalists, Engineers, Financiers etc who play role of Terrorists and hide among civilians. 5. They built terror infra inside Hospitals, Schools, Residences and religious places etc to hide behind civilians 6. Corrupt UN agencies like UNRWA allowed brainwashing of residents & kids with hatred by Hamas Since you care about death of civilians, please ask Hamas to release all Hostages immediately & unconditionally AND ask Hamas, Houthis and Hezbollah to surrender along with their arms. War will immediately STOP, bringing relief to Civilians on both sides of the border. Please stop PropaGaza. #bringthembacknow #bringthemhomenow #alllivesmatter #standwithisrael #standwithhumanity

Professional sports should respond to the shelling of Ukraine’s civilian population. This July, the 2024 Olympics take place in Paris. The International Olympic Committee let Russians compete without their country's flag, and gave other sports organizations guidelines for admitting them. Unfortunately, 14 Russians from different sports are already in the Paris Games... But hey, no track and field athletes! World Athletics, led by Sebastian Coe, was the first to totally ban Russia, not even letting them compete without flags.  That strong stance is rare these days. This really hurts Ukrainian athlete-diplomats. We keep pushing for the complete removal of Russian representatives from professional sports. Last weekend at the Ukrainian Athletics Championships in Lviv, I met with World Athletics President Sebastian Coe. We discussed how to get all the other sports organizations on board. It's a tough issue. It takes constant effort and a clear, unwavering "no." Even though the track and field community is more united than ever, many other sports organizations still think politics shouldn't be in sports. Sports are a super powerful tool for international diplomacy. We either use it right, or our enemy will. So let's keep fighting! The war front may be one, but the fight for truth needs to happen everywhere, including sports!

What makes the UK's sports economy world renowned? 🌍 The UK is home to various accelerators and business support organisations that help drive the sports economy forward, including UK Sport 🤽 Find out more about the UK's sports economy sector here 🇬🇧 https://ow.ly/1GOp50SObS6

Do you need some reading for your summer holidays? ☀📕    With the EURO 2024, Tour de France, and the Paris Olympics, this summer is all about sports 🏋️♀️  In our anniversary book, written by Lars Jørgensen and edited by Jens Sejer Andersen, you can read more about the biggest sports political developments and challenges over the past few decades and brush up on your knowledge on topics such as:  - Doping  - Corruption and crime  - Governance in sports organisations  - Soft power and sportswashing  - Abuse  - Athlete activism  … and much more    You can read the book as a whole or download the chapters on the topics that interest you the most – all for free!📣   Find the title of each chapter in the slides below and go to our webpage to download the different chapters (link in the comments)👇