Monaco Highlights the Power of Sport as a Driver of Diplomacy and Gender Equality

At the invitation of the President of the Preston Robert Tisch Institute for Global Sport – a leading institution that trains future leaders in international sports management – H.E. Ms. Isabelle PICCO, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Monaco to the United Nations, took part in the panel discussion “Sports Diplomacy and Women’s Empowerment”, held at the Center for Global Affairs at New York University (NYU).

During her address, Ambassador Picco emphasized the role of sport as a catalyst for social change, a lever for equality, and a tool for multilateral diplomacy. She highlighted the importance of education, including physical education for women, equal pay, and the fight against stereotypes and online violence targeting female athletes.

She also presented Monaco’s initiatives in this field, particularly through the Group of Friends of Sport for Sustainable Development, which she co-chairs with her Qatari counterpart, and underlined the key role of international organizations, such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), in advancing these shared goals.

Other participants included Ms. Jayathma WICKRAMANAYAKE, Head of Sports Partnerships at UN Women, and H.E. Mr. Mohammed AL NASR, Deputy Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations.

The discussion also benefited from the insights of Professor Lindsay Sarah KRASNOFF, a recognized expert in sports diplomacy and author of seminal works on basketball and international relations, whose academic perspective enriched the debate and fostered meaningful dialogue.