Скачать или смотреть Sports Diplomacy with Jimmy Lynn

At the center of sports diplomacy are star athletes who have, at times, played the role of ambassadors. In particular, the National Basketball Association has worked hard to have a strong presence in China and the rest of the world, said Jimmy Lynn, an adjunct professor in Georgetown University’s sports industry management program.

“Shaq was a big deal. Obviously, Michael Jordan was a big deal. But that first year Yao Ming came, you would not believe the media,” Lynn said. “The popularity of the NBA in China exploded because of Yao Ming."

Soccer is another sport that's attracted a global following, Lynn said.

"You really see the expansion of the sport. It's a really big European sport, [then] came to the U.S.. It's trending very well now in the U.S., but the explosion is taking place in Asia," he said.

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