Writing of the unique place of sport in Australian society, the celebrated US travel writer Bill Bryson once wrote “truly, never has there been a more sporting nation … it is a wonder in such a vigorous and active society that there is anyone left to form an audience”.
Sport is a vital part of who we are, how others see us, and – these days – a low-risk, low-cost and high-profile diplomatic tool in an increasingly divisive geopolitical landscape.
Countries such as China, Saudi Arabia and Russia are investing in the sports diplomacy game and, arguably, Australia’s edge in this niche area of international relations has dulled a little.
