The Office of Sports Diplomacy of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) invites proposals for the Sports Visitor Program. This international exchange program uses sports to advance the Administration’s foreign policy priorities, promote American leadership, and support the U.S. sports economy. The Sports Visitor Program includes countries from all six regions of the world, as determined in consultation with the Department’s regional bureaus. The program is authorized under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (Fulbright-Hays Act), which aims to increase mutual understanding and strengthen ties between the people of the United States and other nations.
The Sports Visitor Program brings together American and international youth and adult coaches/chaperones for thematic, sports-based exchanges. The target audience for this program is American and international youth (ages 15-23) and their adult coaches/chaperones. The program is not intended for elite or professional athletes. Through both U.S.-based and international exchanges, participants develop leadership skills, build lasting bilateral relationships, and explore the positive impact of U.S. laws – such as Title IX and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) – on sports and society. The program focuses on peer-to-peer engagement, cultural exchange, and helping youth become role models and community leaders.
Key program components include:
- Organizing thematic exchanges to meet program goals;
- Integrating with existing youth sports camps and/or creating customized camps to maximize interaction between American and international participants;
- Balancing on-the-field sports training with off-the-field workshops, community service, and cultural activities;
- Launching special initiatives to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary and major sporting events hosted in the United States; and
- Providing comprehensive orientations, strong media and communication strategies, and ongoing alumni engagement and follow-on activities.
ECA funding will support approximately five U.S.-based exchanges and approximately seven international-based exchanges, each lasting at least two weeks. The program will also support follow-on projects so participants can share what they learned in their home communities. The award will fund approximately 265 Sports Visitor Program participants (130 foreign and 135 American as detailed in Section 3). Applicants are encouraged to exceed these numbers should their expertise lead to cost-efficiencies.
Eligible applicants include U.S. not-for-profit organizations (including think tanks and NGOs) and U.S. not-for-profit public and private educational institutions with at least four years of experience conducting international exchanges. Applicants must be registered in SAM.gov with a Unique Entity Identifier (UEI). Only one proposal per organization will be considered.
ECA anticipates that a single award recipient will manage all organizational and administrative responsibilities of the program and select qualified partners (sub-award recipients) to implement the international-based exchanges. Applicants should explain how they will manage and oversee these sub-awards.
Please see the announcement for additional information.