The Quiet Power of Switzerland, Sports Diplomacy and Football

The Geneva School of Diplomacy hosted a dynamic panel discussion exploring Switzerland’s unique position at the crossroads of international sport, diplomacy, governance, and global influence through the lens of football and sports diplomacy.

Sport has long served as more than competition. It is a powerful diplomatic instrument, a platform for international dialogue, and an increasingly influential space where governance, human rights, geopolitics, and soft power intersect.

As home to many of the world’s leading international sporting institutions, Switzerland occupies a unique position in the global sports diplomacy landscape. In this panel discussion, the Geneva School of Diplomacy brought together leading voices from sport, governance, and diplomacy to examine how football and international sport shape global relations beyond the field of play.

The conversation explored the strategic role of Switzerland within international sport governance, the diplomatic influence of major sporting institutions, the relationship between sport and international cooperation, and the broader role of football as a platform for dialogue, influence, and global engagement.

Held as part of the Geneva School of Diplomacy’s Emerging Issues & Persistent Challenges series, the event offered students and attendees an opportunity to engage with experts working at the intersection of international affairs and sport.

About the Speakers

Dominique Blanc — Former President, Swiss Football Association; Member, FIFA Human Rights Committee

Swiss Football Association / FIFA

Dominique Blanc is the former President of the Swiss Football Association and has served as a member of FIFA’s Human Rights Committee. With extensive leadership experience in international football governance, his work has focused on institutional leadership, governance reform, and the evolving role of sport within broader global conversations.

Olivier Jarosz — Faculty Member, Geneva School of Diplomacy

Geneva School of Diplomacy

Olivier Jarosz is a faculty member at the Geneva School of Diplomacy with expertise in sports diplomacy, international sport governance, and the geopolitical dimensions of global sporting institutions. His academic and professional work examines how sport operates as a diplomatic and strategic tool in international relations.

Akshith Karney — Geneva School of Diplomacy Alumnus and Athlete

Geneva School of Diplomacy

Akshith Karney is a Geneva School of Diplomacy alumnus and athlete whose experience bridges international affairs and the world of sport. His perspective brings insight into the practical and personal dimensions of sport’s role in diplomacy, leadership, and global engagement.