NOTE: External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein.
| The State Department web page below is a permanent electronic archive of information released prior to January 20, 2001. Please see http://exchanges.state.gov/intlathletics/ for current material from the office of the Coordinator for International Athletics. Contact us with any questions about finding information.
Contact us with any questions about finding information. NOTE: External links to other Internet sites should not be construed as an endorsement of the views contained therein. |
U.S. Department of State
Coordinator for International Athletics
State Department Contact | Fact Sheet | Sports Diplomacy | The Olympics
Visa and Customs Information | Future U.S. Competitions | Links to Sports Information
The Coordinator for International Athletics, Donna Gigliotti, coordinates the State Department's involvement in international athletic competitions and its support of international athletic events, including the Olympics. She also serves as a U.S. Government primary contact with the international sports community. Please contact Ms. Gigliotti at:
U.S. Coordinator for International Athletics
U.S. Department of State
Washington, DC 20520
Tel: 202-647-7179
email: d.gigliotti@state.govThe United States has a long history of supporting international athletic events, including hosting seven modern Olympic games. In addition, thousands of athletes have represented America in games all over the world. The U.S. Government supports international athletic competitions because these events provide a showcase for American culture, promote mutual understanding between nations, generate a sense of national pride and create a significant economic impact.
The U.S. State Department's Coordinator for International Athletics plays a major role in coordinating events held in the United States and abroad.
The coordinator serves as a U.S. Government liaison with the international sports community and works with other State Department Bureaus and other federal agencies to facilitate the participation of foreign athletes and attendance by dignitaries at competitions held in the United States. When U.S athletes participate in large-scale events abroad, the coordinator works with overseas posts to help insure security and consular support for American athletes and spectators. In addition, the coordinator works on "sports diplomacy" efforts designed to tie sports activities to foreign policy objectives.
The Coordinator for International Athletics:
- Serves as a liaison between the U.S. Government and the sports community;
- Coordinates activities between U.S. Government and the representatives of international athletic competitions;
- Works with the Bureau of Consular Affairs to ensure the timely and accurate processing of visas for foreign athletes and dignitaries;
- Advises overseas posts on upcoming large-scale competitions;
- Monitors the relationship between foreign policy objectives and sporting events;
- Forms alliances with sports organizations and initiates projects designed to benefit U.S. foreign policy objectives;
- Coordinates with the Bureau of Diplomatic Security to ensure the safety and integrity of the games in regard to foreign dignitaries and athletes; and
- Consults with the State Department's Office of Protocol regarding attendance by dignitaries and diplomatic immunity.
Hakeem "The Dream" Olajuwon, two time NBA champion and member of the original "Dream Team" that competed in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, taped a message to the people of Macedonia and Montenegro, thanking them for taking in thousands of Kosovar-Albanian refugees.
Olajuwon was asked to deliver the message because of his "international stature, legendary reputation and genuine concern over the plight of so many victims of ethnic cleansing," said State Department Deputy Spokesman James B. Foley.
Nominated as the International Ambassador to the NBA in 1993, Olajuwon has long been involved in worldwide concerns. "People in Macedonia and Montenegro have shown such humanity and courage in taking in the refugees. It's an honor to speak on behalf of America in saying thank you," Olajuwon said.
Houston-based Cool Films shot the public service announcement, which was aired in Eastern Europe in June 1999.
The United States hosted its first Olympics in 1904 in St. Louis, Missouri. There have been a total of seven Olympics held in the U.S. The Games of the Olympiad now consist of two sets of international competitions -- the Olympic Games (summer) and the Olympic Winter Games. The games, conducted in separate locations on a four-year cycle, alternate every two years. The most recent Olympics in the United States was held in Atlanta, Georgia in 1996. In 2002, Salt Lake City, Utah, will host the Olympic Winter Games.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC), is the umbrella organization for the Olympics. The US Olympic Committee (USOC) is responsible for the training, competition opportunities and welfare of American athletes.
Future Olympic Host Cities
Host Country Consular Information
Foreign visitors to the United States can get information on visa requirements for entry into the United States from the Bureau of Consular Affairs' Visa Services page.
Information on entering and exiting the United States -- including what travelers may and may not bring into this country, restrictions on what travelers may take to other countries, and traveling with certain medicines -- can be found on the U.S. Customs Service Traveler Information page.
Future Competitions in the U.S.
- Men's World Basketball Championships, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2002
- World Gymnastics Championships, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2003
- World Swimming Championships, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2004
- President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS)
- U.S. Armed Forces Sports
- International Olympic Committee (IOC)
- National Olympic Committees
- U.S. National Sports Governing Bodies --
[End of Document]
|| International Organization Affairs | U.S. Department of State | Disclaimers ||