The Role of Sports Para-diplomacy in Regional Sustainable Peace

The aim of this study was to investigate the role of sports Para-diplomacy in regional sustainable peace. Para-diplomacy, in conjunction with the capacities of border regions' cities and institutional structures, for establishing sustainable relationships with neighboring countries and reducing tensions in border areas, is considered a contemporary approach. Combining this form of diplomacy with the sports capabilities of border regions shapes sports Para-diplomacy, which can introduce the peaceful nature of sports into the realm of regional relations. The existence of cultural commonalities such as language, customs, and traditions among border regions and neighboring cities greatly facilitates the organization of sports events and the dispatch of sports envoys, enabling the utilization of this capacity for the design of appropriate sports programs. Special sports events, indigenous traditional sports competitions, establishing sports tourism capacities, and efforts to host international sports competitions and events in neighboring cities are among the instances that can contribute to improving relations, fostering peace, and achieving regional sustainable peace. They also promote a friendly discourse space and bilateral or multilateral cooperation among neighboring and bordering countries.