Sports Foster Friendship
China-Africa sports diplomacy has achieved fruitful results
The widely known ping pong diplomacy led to the establishment of Sino-US diplomatic relations after a two-decade breakdown, and became a major historical event that promoted the development of relations between countries and even changed the international situation. However, what is little known is that the ping pong diplomacy was actually used much earlier when China established diplomatic relations with African countries in the 1950s and 1960s. In fact, in addition to ping pong diplomacy, sports diplomacy between China and African countries has always played an important role in bringing the two sides closer.
Sports diplomacy as public diplomacy
China-Africa sports diplomacy began in the 1950s. In 1957, the Chinese women’s table tennis team attracted worldwide attention after winning the third place at the 24th World Table Tennis Championships in Sweden. After the victory, the team was invited to visit Egypt, which had established diplomatic relations with China less than a year before, marking the beginning of ChinaAfrica sports diplomacy.
In order to enhance China-Africa relations and deepen China-Africa friendship, from 1963 to 1965, Premier Zhou Enlai led Chinese delegations on three goodwill visits to 10 African countries including Egypt, Algeria and Morocco. During his visit to Ghana, Premier Zhou played table tennis with Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah, and Vice Premier Chen Yi, who was also visiting, voluntarily served as the referee. The scene was warm and touching. Such high-level sports diplomacy events involving top leaders have become legends, and are remembered by later generations.
Late South African President Nelson Mandela once said that sports have the power to change the world. This statement reveals the unique value of sports. With his personal charm and global influence, Mandela made great contributions to South Africa’s success in hosting the 2010 World Cup. It attracted the world’s attention to South Africa and the African continent, and greatly inspired people in Africa to unite and commit to national and continental development.
Late Cameroonian President Ahmadou Ahidjo was a huge football fan. He vigorously promoted football and made outstanding contributions to Cameroon’s success in world football games. As the greatest football player in African history, Liberian President George Weah was the first African to win the FIFA World Player of the Year. After retiring, he was successfully elected as president and devoted himself to the development of the country with his huge global influence.
There are many leaders of African countries who show varying degrees of love for football. When celebrations are held after the stadiums built with Chinese aid in these countries are completed, friendly football matches with China are the most popular repertoire. Weah often attends these events and watches football matches to thank China for its contribution to the development of bilateral relations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to China-Africa sports diplomacy. During his state visit to Senegal on 22 July 2018, President Xi and his Senegalese counterpart Macky Sall attended the handover ceremony of the National Wrestling Arena built with Chinese aid, and watched Senegalese traditional competitive wrestling performances. The wrestling arena is China’s largest aid project in Senegal and the first modern wrestling arena in Africa.
The arena is a vivid reflection of the profound friendship between the Chinese and the Senegalese, President Xi said. Hailing Senegal as a country of culture, President Xi said China is ready to work with Senegal in committing itself to preserving and carrying forward traditional cultures so as to promote cultural exchanges