Sports diplomacy

Sports diplomacy can be a potent weapon in the Pacific to improve ties with democratic nations and resits China’s coercive grasp for political power and social influence.

Playing for life

Physical recreation and group activities can boost mental health and sports clubs can help by adopting more evidence-based techniques to understand their members.

Sportsball sucks

Australia punches above its weight in global sports, and has the reputation of a “sports mad” nation, but in reality most people don’t care much about most sports and a fifth of the population actively hate it all.

Women in sport

Women’s success in sports can have substantial positive economic outcomes for their countries. More than this, they can contribute to a nation’s international affairs and influence relationships with other countries.

Lionel Messi: The man who fell to Earth in Hong Kong

When Lionel Messi failed to take the field in a pre-season exhibition football (soccer) match in Hong Kong, the furious reaction exposed the risks of staging celebrity-centred sports events without the main act.

Sport: Socially divided, spuriously unified?

Sport can still unite rather than divide us but must reinvent its structures and practices, rediscover its ethical mission, and reimagine who are ‘us’ to remain a positive and progressive force for social good.

Fair game: Lessons from sport for a fairer society and a stronger economy

Andrew Leigh, the Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities & Treasury and the Assistant Minister for Employment argued that sport shows we don’t have to sacrifice egalitarianism and honour in pursuit of victory in a recent address at the National Library.

AFL must waltz like the Matildas

The unprecedented popularity of the Women’s soccer world cup in Australia is a sign that Australia’s own football code needs to up its game to retain the interest of the next generation.

Women’s soccer kicks on

A concerted push by the media and sporting authorities has turned the Women’s soccer world cup into a major event, but ongoing investment will be required to sustain this surge in interest.

Go Matildas!

This year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup kicks off on 20 July 2023 with the Matildas playing the Republic of Ireland and offers a unique opportunity to get children – particularly girls – into team sport.

What’s it all about, Gary? Politics and the sports presenter

Gary Lineker has enjoyed a wave of public and professional support after he was stood down by the BBC after tweeting his thoughts on the British government’s new asylum bill.

Rugby relations

Australia should make the most of its strong sporting relations with the Pacific as it embarks on a decade at the centre stage of world sport with rugby taking a starring role.