The Politics and Geopolitics of Women’s Sport in the Pacific
The DiplomatNow that the spectacularly successful FIFA Women’s World Cup has concluded with Spain’s La Roja victorious over Britain’s Lionesses at Sydney’s Olympic Stadium on August 20, there is much to unpack. Sporting teams are perhaps the most prominent demonstration of Australia’s “Pacific family.” For many years, Australia’s sporting teams, especially in men’s rugby league and rugby union, have been filled with players of Pacific Islands heritage. The FIFA Women’s World Cup had interesting Pacific angles that also feed into Australia’s Pacific family narrative on one level. Pacific geopolitics in the FIFA Women’s World Cup was subtle, but nonetheless present and instructive, as Australia, the United States, and other nations fashion ways to engage more deeply in the Pacific. The lack of presence of Pacific women at the Australian and New Zealand stadiums speak to something amiss with Australia’s sports diplomacy.
History of this topic
Australia pledges $128 mln for women’s sport to cement World Cup legacy
The Hindu
‘It’s a complete frenzy’: Matildas mania grips Australia
Al JazeeraIndigenous Football Australia pushes for direct funding out of Women’s World Cup legacy
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