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Sports Visitor Program

FAQs

Who are Sports Visitors?

Sports Visitors are international non-elite youth athletes (15 years old and above) and coaches and administrators (23 years old and above) who travel to the United States for a fast-paced short-term sports cultural exchange. During the program, they engage with American peers and sports practitioners, participate in clinics, and sessions on leadership, team-building and conflict resolution, as well as on inclusion and equity in sport. Sports Visitor programs show young people how participation in athletics can translate into achievements in the classroom and life. They also provide Americans with an opportunity to interact firsthand with people from every region of the world.

How can I be selected to participate in the Sports Visitor Program?

Participants are selected locally, so please contact the Public Affairs Section of your U.S. embassy or consulate overseas for information on the U.S. Department of State’s sports efforts in your country.

If I am a coach, or represent an organization, outside of the U.S. and would like to participate in the Sports Visitor Program, how can I try to do so?

Each Sports Visitor Program is initiated by  the U.S. embassies and consulates so please contact the Public Affairs Section at your local U.S. embassy or consulate if you are interested in participating in the Sports Visitor Program from your home country.

Is there any way that my organization overseas could receive equipment donations?

Due to limited resources outside of planned programs we are not able to send equipment donations. In some cases, your U.S. embassy or consulate, private organizations, or sports federations may be able to help.

How can I, as a coach in the U.S., or my U.S.-based sports organization become involved in the Sports Visitor Program?
The Sports Diplomacy Division seeks to share U.S. experience and expertise in grassroots, community-based sports with international youth and coaches, and likewise, gain expertise and cultural understanding from international peers.  The Sports Visitor Program relies on the expertise, commitment, and generosity of national and community-based U.S. organizations; professional and amateur federations, leagues, and teams; U.S. secondary and higher educational institutions; as well as citizen experts and diplomats across the country to implement each exchange.  While each Sports Visitor exchange is prepared in collaboration with specific contacts, we welcome your ideas and suggestions. Please contact us to learn more about how you can be involved
How can the State Department’s Sports Diplomacy Division fund my project? What projects do they fund? How can I access the grants they offer?

The State Department Sports Diplomacy Division receives funding from Congress that is specifically designated for implementing four different two-way international sports-based exchanges. For more information on those four programs please visit our About page.  All of these programs are implemented through a grant awarded to a U.S.-based implementing partner. For more information on open Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFO), please visit Grants.gov and search the keyword “sports”.  The Sports Diplomacy Division does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding.

Is the Sports Diplomacy Division hiring? Do they offer professional development opportunities?
The Sports Diplomacy Division is in the Bureau of Educational Affairs at the U.S. State Department.  If you are interested in being employed by the State Department, available positions are typically posted on USAjobs.gov. The Sports Diplomacy Division also takes on two interns per term through both the in-person U.S. Department of State Student Internship Program and the e-intern Virtual Student Federal Service (VSFS) program.  For more information on eligibility and application instructions for either of those programs please visit their respective websites hyperlinked above.  Please note that only U.S. citizens may apply for these opportunities.

U.S. Department of State FAQs