25 Sep Sport Diplomacy in Action: Skateboarding in Africa

The following article is written by UK Sport. UK Sport is a member of the UK Soft Power Group – the premier group representing non-governmental UK-based soft power assets, which is co-convened by BFPG and the British Council.

Skateboarding might be new on the block when it comes to Olympic sport, but it is already taking the globe by storm, with stars such as Kokona Hiraki, Bryce Wettstein and Great Britain’s Sky Brown leading the way, and inspiring a new generation of fans in the process. 

Skateboarding is also a sport on the rise here in the UK with Sky Brown recently becoming Britain’s first ever world champion and Lola Tambling demonstrating the depth in the British team by securing a top six finish. But it’s not just on the park or in the street that the UK is enjoying success.  Skateboard GB are leading the way when it comes to the global development of this vibrant and fast-paced sport, which is reaching new heights. The traditional global powerhouses, the USA, Japan and Australia, are now being joined by a growing popularity for the sport in the East African nation of Tanzania, and the UK is playing its part in helping take the sport there to the next level. 

The new and pioneering partnership, launched in June of this year, between Skateboard GB and the Tanzania Roller Skating Association (TAROSKA) is the first of its kind, with the central aim of supporting the development of skateboarding in Tanzania. The project is supported by investment from UK Sport’s International Partnership Programme and has three main priorities: to develop skateboarding talent infrastructure in the nation, to increase Tanzanian participation in the Olympic Games and to promote the sport’s potential for future inclusion in the Commonwealth Games. 

The first phase of the project, which delivered coaching qualifications to sixteen Tanzanian skateboarders, kicked off in June with a visit to Dar es Salaam for representatives from Skateboard GB and UK Sport, including Chair Dame Katherine Grainger. 

This part of the project developed the core skills and knowledge needed to safely deliver coaching sessions to beginner-level skateboarders, and is the only formal skateboarding coach education opportunity available anywhere in Africa, making a real difference to communities.

It also represented diplomacy in action, as the visit sought to strengthen the bilateral relationship between the UK and Tanzania, through meetings between the UK delegation, and the Tanzanian Sport Ministry and the Tanzanian Olympic Committee. There was also an event hosted to mark the occasion at the High Commissioner’s Residence and an opportunity for Dame Katherine to present to High Commission staff members about the role of sport in diplomacy and development. The visit also generated positive coverage amongst national media outlets within Tanzania. 

However, the project does not end here. The second phase, scheduled to take place later this autumn in the UK, will provide the opportunity for further support to be provided to TAROSKA, with a particular focus on strategic planning and development. This phase will also enable the Tanzanian delegation to experience the world class training and competition facilities which exist here in the UK, something they are striving to replicate back home. The third and final phase of the project will conclude with a knowledge transfer conference, which will include seminars on governance, strategy and delivery, with an invite extended to other African nations alongside Tanzania. It is intended that this will become an annual event. 

This partnership between Skateboard GB and the TAROSKA is the latest in a long line of activities delivered through UK Sport’s International Partnership Programme. The programme is well respected around the world, and particularly in Africa, as it seeks to use the power and platform that sport provides to establish, build and develop relationships between the UK and nations around the globe. It also supports UK National Governing Bodies of sport to build closer strategic relations with international and national federations around the world through collaborative partnerships and projects which often include coach education, athlete training, safeguarding training and provision of equipment. The programme helps ensure that the UK develops relations that enhance its profile and sporting objectives internationally, whilst contributing meaningfully to the development of international sport.

For more information on this project, or UK Sport’s International Partnership Programme, please contact externalaffairs@uksport.gov.uk.