Stadium diplomacy refers to the construction of stadiums and sports facilities in other nations as a form of foreign aid. China is the most prominent practitioner of this strategy, using it as a form of soft power to bolster diplomatic ties. [1] [2] [3] The practice dates back to at least 1958, when China funded the National Sports Stadium in Mongolia. [4]
The following includes overseas stadiums and sports facilities that were either donated outright or built with financial assistance from the Chinese government, typically in the form of grants, concessional loans, or other aid-linked financing in cooperation with the host country. [2] Projects carried out solely by Chinese construction firms on commercial terms, without financing support from the Chinese government, are not included.
During the 2000s, the competition between the People’s Republic of China and the Republic of China (Taiwan) played out in the Caribbean through stadium diplomacy. Beijing funded large-scale cricket and multi-purpose stadiums in countries that switched diplomatic recognition to China, while Taiwan provided more modest support to its remaining Caribbean allies: Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Saint Kitts and Nevis. In Saint Kitts and Nevis, Taiwan supported Warner Park Stadium with a US$21 million donation ahead of the 2007 Cricket World Cup. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Taiwan financed warm-up facilities. In Saint Lucia, the George Odlum Stadium was originally built by China in 2002, and Taiwan later contributed to refurbishment by upgrading the athletics track after the country switched diplomatic recognition back to Taiwan in 2007. [71] [72] [73] [74] [75]