Sports Diplomacy - Olympic Games

Greece, as the birthplace of the Olympic Games, the Olympic Ideal, and classical athletics, has a long tradition of both organizing and participating in major international sporting events. In this context, the promotion of major sporting events held in Greece and internationally, such as the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Special Olympics, the Authentic Athens Marathon, and the Mediterranean Games, as well as the ongoing promotion of the Olympic Truce, are key aspects of Greek Public Diplomacy.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with relevant agencies, addresses issues related to international sports relations and the protection of the integrity of sports, using as its primary tool the international institutional framework to which our country has committed itself through the ratification and implementation of relevant conventions. Specifically, within this framework, issues such as the security of sporting events (Saint-Denis Convention), the fight against match-fixing (Macolin Convention), as well as the fight against doping through the relevant conventions of the Council of Europe and UNESCO.

At the same time, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with relevant agencies, is drafting and promoting bilateral Agreements and Memoranda of Understanding on sports cooperation, thereby significantly enhancing the international profile of Greek sports. These agreements cover a wide range of areas, such as the exchange of expertise and best practices, sports education, sports medicine, the protection of sports integrity, the promotion of gender equality, the participation of athletes with disabilities, and the development of sports infrastructure.

Overall, Greek sports diplomacy showcases sports not only as a field of international cooperation, but also as a powerful tool for peace, dialogue, and cultural promotion.