Politics

As lawmakers settle in for a long session with little of the urgency of the final days before the 2016 elections, politics and policy are still major talking points.

The use of sport as a means to influence diplomatic, social, and political relations is described in politics and sports or sports diplomacy. The diplomacy of sports may transcend cultural differences and bring people together. The use of sports and politics has had both positive and negative implications over history.

Globalization and sports diplomacy in the 21st century is a newly emerging dimension to the rules of diplomacy. Sports is playing a central role in promoting political and cultural diplomacy at the grassroots.

The cooperation of India with Russia over the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympic Games has since been widely discussed. The then President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, suggested to Prime Minister Modi in 2014, during the summer games, that India could bid for the winter games in Russia to be held in 2022. This offer was acknowledged by Modi but this was not acted upon. The offer also provided Modi with an opportunity to deepen his relationship with the Russian President.

India’s Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports, Rajyavardhan Rathore, is now scheduled to attend the Paralympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea, in October 2018. The two countries are joining hands again for the Games, a commentary on their successful Olympic partnership.

Politics and sport, whilst perhaps controversial, is an intrinsic part of human interaction. Nonetheless, by and large the aforementioned criticisms seem to be overstated. In fact, since 2000 the World Championships in Athletics and Summer Olympic Games have had separate opening and closing ceremonies.