The College of Political Science – University of Baghdad, represented by the Department of International Studies and the Continuing Education Unit, organized a cultural symposium entitled “Sports as a Soft Power in International Relations” at Dr. Jihad Al-Hassani Hall, on Monday morning, November 24, 2025.
The symposium highlighted the growing role of sports as one of the tools of soft power in international relations, and how sporting events and championships can be employed to improve the international image of states, enhance their diplomatic and cultural presence, and open new horizons for public diplomacy and rapprochement among peoples.
The discussions also addressed prominent international experiences in the field of sports diplomacy, as well as the opportunities available to Iraq to invest in sports as a means to enhance its regional and international presence and to build positive channels of communication with other societies.At the conclusion of the symposium, emphasis was placed on the importance of supporting initiatives that enhance the role of sports in bringing peoples closer together, encouraging the integration of soft-power concepts within academic activities, and strengthening institutional partnerships in a manner that reinforces the values of positive peace and contributes to building an active international image of Iraq. This aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goals 3 and 16, and supports the pillars of the Iraqi National Security Strategy
