Ireland’s International Sports Diplomacy Strategy and Japan

When you think of sport in Ireland, what comes to mind? Gaelic football and hurling? Or perhaps swimming, football, rugby and golf? According to a 2024 survey of popular sports conducted by Sport Ireland, participation rates are ranked as follows:
 

1 Personal exercise (e.g. gym workouts or home training) 18%

2 Swimming 8%

3 Running 7%

4 Cycling 5%

5 Weights 4%

6 Football (soccer) 4%

7 Dancing 4%

8 Yoga 3%

9 Golf 3%

10 Gaelic football 2%

11 Hurling/Camogie 2%

 

On 24 February, Ireland’s International Sports Diplomacy Strategy (2026–2030) was announced by Ms Helen McEntee TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Mr Patrick O'Donovan TD, Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport. Following the ministers’ remarks, a panel discussion was held with figures from the sporting world, including golfer Pádraig Harrington. Representing the Embassy of Japan in Ireland were Ambassador MIYAGAWA Manabu and First Secretary NAKATA Keiko.

 

The newly announced strategy sets out an action plan with four key objectives:

1. To promote Ireland as a sporting nation;

2. To use sport, including Gaelic Games, to deepen Ireland’s diaspora’s connection to Ireland;

3. To support international sporting partnerships and cooperation in line with Ireland’s values and interests; and

4. To maximise the economic value of international sports diplomacy and engagement in major sporting events.

 

In Japan as well, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology work together to promote international exchange in the field of sport. Through traditional Japanese sports such as judo, kendo, and karate, Japan seeks to deepen understanding of the country and foster goodwill towards Japan. Efforts are also made to enhance international exchange through major global sporting events, including the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, as well as to support initiatives to bring major international sporting events to Japan.

 

Ireland and Japan share a common objective: strengthening international connections through sport, including traditional sports deeply rooted in their respective cultures. Incidentally, the person who first introduced hockey to Japan in 1906 was the Irish-born Reverend William Thomas Gray. In recent years, exchanges between Japan and Ireland have continued to deepen across a wide range of sports, including rugby, golf, horse racing, and martial arts.