Investing in sports like tennis is also important for China's global image and "soft power"....China has dominated some sports... so much so that some of the competition rules have been changed in order to "prevent" China from taking all of the medals, and to encourage other nations to participate.

Memphis Grizzlies guard Greivis Vasquez is in Venezuela this week as part of a State Department "sports diplomacy" effort at a time of icy relations between the two countries. Vasquez, a Venezuelan citizen, is teaming with former NBA player Darvin Ham...

The rise of China in the last two decades has been phenomenal in the fields of economics, military power and inclusive growth. To address negative concerns about this rise in the West, China has been pursuing its soft power options through the medium of culture, especially movies, sports, arts and music.It has very effectively used its soft power in the same way the US did during the Cold War era. The promotion of soft power helps in two ways; one is in maintaining China’s peaceful rise and the other in helping it gain international appeal.

Three current and former basketball players will be in Venezuela this week, part of a State Department “sports diplomacy” effort at a time of icy relations between the two countries. The State Department will announce that Memphis Grizzlies guard Greivis Vasquez and others are participating in the people-to-people exchange starting this Thursday

When Michelle Kwan was 16 and had just won the first of what would be five world figure skating titles...Current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong named Kwan an ambassador to a new U.S.-China women's leadership exchange, Women-LEAD...

Sports diplomacy builds on Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s vision of “smart power diplomacy.” It embraces the use of a full range of diplomatic tools, including sports, to bring individuals together to foster greater understanding.

Timed to coincide with the lead-up to the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup as well as the 40th anniversary year of Title IX, the initiative builds on Clinton’s vision of “smart power diplomacy” to harness the full range of diplomatic tools at the nation's disposal — in this case international soccer exchanges — to advance United States foreign policy goals and foster greater understanding.

University of Kentucky men's basketball senior Eloy Vargas, along with other collegiate players, will travel with Reach USA, to Far East May 17 through May 31 to play nine total games against a Lithuanian club team and a Brazilian all-star squad.