Tenth International Conference on Sport & Society

Abstract

Collaboration between Offices of Global Initiatives (International Offices) and Intercollegiate Athletics Programs presents one of the best opportunities for institutions of higher education in the US to advance their global initiatives collaboratively. Intercollegiate athletics programs have been recruiting international athletes for a very long time and most likely this trend will only increase. Additionally, Offices of Global Initiatives (International Offices) have been recruiting, partnering, hosting etc., international students and delegations for a very long time as well. Given the common themes shared between Intercollegiate Athletic Programs and International Offices and the connecting power sports in general play, these two offices should be working hand in hand to further promote institutions agendas globally. Sports programs will benefit tremendously by expanding its booster pool, recruiting base overseas and Global Initiative offices will benefit even more by using sports as a diplomatic agenda to break the ice in reaching communities and societies of interest. At the University of Arizona we have taken a new cohesive approach working with our Intercollegiate Athletics Program on many initiatives. Some of the initiatives are a International Sports Diplomacy and Leadership Conference, International PEP Rally taking place on the football stadium among other things. Understanding the dynamics sports plays outside of the US was key in crafting these initiatives and leveraging that expertise to advance the universities international interests.