Sports Diplomacy
Using sport to build international connection and youth leadership. Through mentorship, bilingual exchange and storytelling, young runners from Oaxaca become ambassadors between Mexico and the United States.
Photos: @braulionxs
What the program does
This project uses sport as a tool for international connection, youth leadership and cross-cultural understanding.
Through athlete mentorship, bilingual exchange and storytelling, young runners in Oaxaca serve as youth ambassadors between Mexico and the United States.
Why it matters
Global challenges require human connection. When a young athlete in rural Oaxaca joins a bilingual run or shares their training with a wider audience, sports diplomacy becomes real. It reshapes perceptions and builds solidarity through a common language.
What the program covers
- Mentorship circles: sessions with runners and coaches from other countries
- Bilingual cultural exchange: virtual runs, storytelling and media collaboration
- Ambassador training: public speaking, leadership and community representation
- Community dialogues: local events sharing what the exchanges taught
Goals to 2028
- Engage at least 30 youth athletes as cultural ambassadors
- Facilitate 50 or more virtual and local exchange events
- Build a sustainable network of athlete-led ambassadors from southern Mexico
What your support can cover
Monthly support helps most: it makes planning each workshop predictable.
may help with a bilingual mentorship session with visiting athletes
may help with materials, translation and virtual exchange support
may help with a local sports diplomacy event for young leaders
Thinking about funding a full ambassador placement? Start a conversation.
Examples are illustrative. Actual expenses vary by athlete and program.
Train as an ambassador
Ambassador training covers public speaking, leadership and community representation. Participants go on to represent their communities in cross-border exchanges and local dialogues.
United States
Oax Sport Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity based in Austin, Texas. EIN 86-3407818. Gifts are tax-deductible in the United States to the extent allowed by law.
Mexico
Oax Sport A.C. is registered in Oaxaca, Mexico. RFC OSP-230216-SG0. Authorization to issue tax-deductible receipts is in process with the SAT; expected early 2027.
Related programs
Build bridges through sport
100% of designated donations received by Oax Sport fund approved expenses for the selected athlete, team, program, or project. General donations that are not designated to a specific athlete or program help cover operating costs and other areas of greatest need.