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From the Olympics to the FIFA World Cup, international sports competitions have long been a way for countries to display national pride and attain international recognition that they might not regularly receive. However, sports diplomacy — the application of sports to international diplomacy — is a much newer area of development within international relations, but one that could potentially have a wide global impact. With the United States hosting the World Cup in 2026, the Olympics in 2028, and the Winter Olympics in 2034, the U.S. is entering a decade in which it will be front and center on the stage of international sports. How might sports diplomacy help the U.S. make the most of this unique opportunity?

To better understand the impact of sports diplomacy on both a global and local level, CCWA’s CEO Marti Flacks will lead a conversation with Travis Murphy, CEO of Jetr Global Sports, and Mike Mulhall, Senior VP at the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. They will cover a range of topics, from the role that sports can play in bilateral relations between two countries, to the involvement of private corporations and teams, to how Cleveland can leverage sports diplomacy for its benefit.

Travis Murphy is a recognized global leader in sports diplomacy, immigration, and government affairs. As the founder and CEO of Jetr Global Sports + Entertainment, he brings more than two decades of experience in international policy and fostering cross-cultural connections. Travis has held pivotal roles as a sports executive, U.S. diplomat, a consular officer in West Africa and South America, as well as chief of staff in Congress. Most recently, he helped lead international government affairs for the NBA. His expertise was instrumental in securing Brittany Griner’s release from unlawful detention in Russia in 2022.

Mike Mulhall is the Senior Vice President, Business Development & Revenue for Greater Cleveland Sports Commission. In this role, he provides leadership to the organization’s operations group, partner alliances and bid process for future events. Prior to his current role, Mulhall served as Vice President of Partnerships for Destination Cleveland where he helped to manage relationships with nearly 700 organizations which are working to grow the tourism industry in Northeast Ohio. Mr. Mulhall has also served as part of the leadership for the sales team at both the Cleveland Guardians and Six Flags. He lives in Cleveland with his wife, Deb, and has four adult children.