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International Influence

The main aim of the International Influence team is to ensure the UK continues to have a voice in the global development of sport.

As a result, it is important that we are up-to-date with issues arising in the international sporting and political arenas, and ensure that the UK has the right people in the right positions to promote the nations sporting interests. Our International Influence team therefore invests in programmes and events that promote international relationship-building with both sporting and government organisations, as well as the development of personnel who have the potential to become influential leaders in the global governance of sport. 

International strategy

UK Sport works with National Governing Bodies (NGBs) and other partner organisations to help them build positive working relationships with International Federations (IFs) and other international sporting bodies. To do this we assist with the development of long-term strategies that aim to ensure an appropriate level of representation on IFs and supranational bodies, such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) and their related sub committees.

International Leadership Programme

The International Leadership Programme (ILP) underpins our work with NGBs in building strategic relationships with IFs to which they affiliate. It is a developmental programme which works with UK sporting administrators who have the potential to reach positions of influence in their respective IFs.

MOU

The International Influence team is responsible for the development and maintenance of meaningful and functional Memoranda of Understanding (MOU).

UK Sport and the People’s Republic of China’s General Administration of Sport (GAS) have had an MOU in place since 1998. This enables mutually beneficial sporting exchanges and learning opportunities.

Schemes developed under the China MOU include "Tomorrow's Champions", a programme launched in January 2008 which aims to bring together future sporting talent from both countries to learn from each other and train together.

International affairs

In order to maintain the best interests of sport in the UK, the International Influence team monitors activity within government, in particular in the UK and EU, to ensure that laws and policies that could adversely affect sport are not passed without thorough consideration of the possible effects.

In circumstances where such decisions are being discussed, the International Influence team lobbies government alongside, and on behalf of, the relevant sporting bodies. The most common issues involve those related to visa restrictions and immigration.

Additionally, the International Influence team manages all inward international visits to UK Sport and related international delegations.

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