About

Sports Visitor Program 

The Sports Visitor Program brings youth athletes, coaches, and administrators from around the world to the United States for sports-based exchanges that address U.S. embassy and consulate priorities and U.S. foreign policy goals.  Activities include, but are not limited to:

Program Tracks

The Sports Visitor Program is implemented in two tracks. Every program is uniquely designed and tailored to the program objectives and goals and the visiting participants’ interests. Learn more about each track:

Coaches & Administrators

These international participants work as coaches for a local youth team, nonprofit, or community program in their home country. Participants also commonly work for national governing boards overseeing sports within the country. Most participants are former athletes, and all believe strongly in increasing access to athletic participation for youth in their respective countries. Regardless of personal and professional background, coaches and administrators who participate in the Sports Visitor Program bring a wide variety of experience and knowledge to share with their U.S.-based counterparts. Action plan development is an important component of all coach and administrator programs. Using the information and knowledge gained throughout their program in the United States, participants design and present action plans. These initiatives, implemented upon participants returning home, use sports to addresses a specific community challenge.

Youth Athletes

International youth who have demonstrated high levels of leadership, initiative, and potential are identified and nominated by U.S. embassies and consulates to participate in the Sports Visitor Program. These youth travel to the United States for an immersive, two-week program, implemented in conjunction with an American summer camp for youth. Examples of youth programs include Adaptive Basketball (University of Illinois Adaptive Sports Camp), Soccer and English as a Second Language (Soccer Without Borders Summer Camp), and Women’s Empowerment through Sports (Julie Foudy & espnW Sports Leadership Academy). In addition to participating in sport-specific training alongside American youth, the visiting youth athletes also participate in workshops on topics such as leadership development, public speaking, conflict resolution, mental health and wellbeing, and much more. Built into every program are opportunities to engage in cultural exchange activities, attend sporting events, participate in team-building exercises, and explore higher education opportunities in the United States.

Check out our FAQs page for answers to common questions about the program.