Sports Diplomacy in Action: Skateboarding in Africa

Sept. 25 Sports Diplomacy in Action: Skateboarding in Africa

The following article was written by UK Sport. UK Sport is a member of the UK Soft Power Group – the leading group representing non-governmental soft power companies based in the UK, convened jointly by BFPG and the British Council.

Skateboarding may be new to the Olympic sport, but it’s already taking the world by storm, with stars like Kokona Hiraki, Bryce Wettstein and Britain’s Sky Brown leading the way, inspiring a new generation of fans of the process.

Skateboarding is also a sport on the rise here in the UK. Sky Brown recently became Britain’s first ever World Champion and Lola Tambling demonstrated the strength of the British team by securing a place in the top six. But Great Britain is not only successful in the park or on the street. Skateboard GB is leading the global development of this dynamic and fast-paced sport, reaching new heights. The traditional world powers of the USA, Japan and Australia are now being joined by a growing popularity of the sport in the East African country of Tanzania, and the UK is doing its part to take the sport there to the next level.

The new and ground-breaking partnership, launched in June this year between Skateboard GB and the Tanzania Roller Skating Association (TAROSKA), is the first of its kind with the central aim of supporting the development of skateboarding in Tanzania. The project is supported by investment from UK Sport’s International Partnership Program and has three key priorities: developing the country’s skateboarding talent infrastructure, increasing Tanzanian participation in the Olympics and promoting the sport’s potential for future inclusion Commonwealth Games.

The first phase of the project, which provided coaching qualifications to sixteen Tanzanian skateboarders, began in June with a visit to Dar es Salaam by representatives from Skateboard GB and UK Sport, including chairman Dame Katherine Grainger.

This part of the project developed the core skills and knowledge required to safely deliver coaching sessions for beginner skateboarders and is the only formal training opportunity for skateboard coaches across Africa, making a real difference to communities.

It also represented diplomacy in action as the visit aimed to strengthen bilateral relations between the UK and Tanzania through meetings between the British delegation and the Tanzanian Ministry of Sports and the Tanzanian Olympic Committee. An event was also held at the High Commissioner’s Residence to mark the occasion, where Dame Katherine presented the role of sport in diplomacy and development to the High Commission staff. The visit also generated positive coverage in Tanzania’s national media.

However, the project does not end here. The second phase, due to take place in the UK later in the autumn, will provide an opportunity to provide further support to TAROSKA, with a particular focus on strategic planning and development. This phase will also allow the Tanzanian delegation to experience the world-class training and competition facilities available here in the UK, something they hope to replicate back home. The third and final phase of the project will conclude with a knowledge transfer conference, comprising seminars on governance, strategy and implementation, to which other African nations, in addition to Tanzania, will be invited. The intention is to make this an annual event.

This partnership between Skateboard GB and TAROSKA is the latest in a long series of activities undertaken as part of UK Sport’s international partnership program. The program is highly regarded around the world, and particularly in Africa, as it aims to use the power and platform that sport offers to build, build and develop relationships between the UK and nations around the world. It also supports the UK’s national sporting associations to develop closer strategic relationships with international and national associations around the world through collaborative partnerships and projects, which often include coach education, athlete training, safe training and equipment provision. The program helps the UK build relationships that enhance its profile and sporting ambitions internationally, whilst making a meaningful contribution to the development of international sport.

For further information about this project or UK Sport’s international partnership program please contact [email protected].