What changed between these versions
A substantive revision. V2 establishes the Office of Sports Diplomacy directly, rather than renaming an existing division, and mandates a subsequent strategy incorporating lessons learned. It also introduces a 10-year sunset for the Office and removes the requirement for additional full-time equivalent staff.
Overview
A handful of substantive changes affecting the structure and requirements for the sports diplomacy strategy and the associated office. · V2 refines the strategy submission process, alters the establishment and staffing of the Office of Sports Diplomacy, and introduces a sunset provision, representing a clarification and slight restructuring of the implementation mechanisms.
The most significant change is the direct establishment of the Office of Sports Diplomacy in v2, replacing the instruction to rename an existing division, and the removal of the mandate for additional staff. V2 also introduces a new requirement for a subsequent 5-year strategy that includes lessons learned from previous events. A sunset clause for the Office of Sports Diplomacy is added, limiting its duration. The core objectives and elements of the sports diplomacy strategy remain largely consistent.
Major additions
This new subsection mandates the submission of a subsequent 5-year sports diplomacy strategy, to be submitted 5 years after the initial strategy. This subsequent strategy must include "evaluations of lessons learned from international sporting events held in the United States during the previous 5-year period."
This addition ensures a continuous and adaptive strategic planning process, incorporating feedback and experience from earlier events in the "mega-decade of sports." It moves from a one-time strategy plus an update to a more iterative approach.
This new subsection introduces a sunset provision, stating that Section 4 (which establishes the Office of Sports Diplomacy and outlines its functions) shall cease to have effect 10 years after the date of the enactment of this Act.
This limits the statutory duration of the Office of Sports Diplomacy, implying that its existence or structure would need reauthorization or review after the "American Decade of Sports" concludes. It provides a defined lifespan for the Office.
Deletions
V1 required the Secretary of State to "rename the Sports Diplomacy Division in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs as the Office of Sports Diplomacy" within 90 days and specified that "The Office shall be under the general supervision of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs."
The deletion removes the specific instruction to rename an existing division and the explicit reporting structure within the Bureau. Instead, v2 directly establishes the Office, which is a structural change in how the office comes into being and its initial organizational placement.
V1 mandated that the Secretary of State assign "not fewer than 3 additional full-time equivalent staff dedicated exclusively to implementing each strategy required under section 3(a)" to the Office of Sports Diplomacy, from 180 days after enactment until December 31, 2034.
This deletion removes a specific staffing mandate for the Office. This means there is no longer a statutory requirement for additional personnel dedicated to the sports diplomacy strategy, potentially impacting the resources available for its implementation.
Modifications
This clarifies the timing and nature of the initial strategy submission, with the subsequent strategy now having its own dedicated subsection and specific content requirements.
Before
Required the Secretary of State to submit a 5-year sports diplomacy strategy "Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, and not later than 5 years after such date".
After
Requires the Secretary of State to submit an "Initial Strategy" "Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act". The requirement for a strategy submission "not later than 5 years after such date" is moved to a new subsection 3(b).
Ensures that the elements apply to both the initial and subsequent strategies as defined in the new structure of Section 3.
Before
Stated that "Both strategies required under subsection (a) shall include" the listed elements.
After
States that "The strategies required under subsections (a) and (b) shall include" the listed elements.
No significant operative impact, merely a more precise historical reference.
Before
Referenced the "1984 Olympic Games".
After
References the "1984 Summer Olympic Games".
Ensures public availability applies correctly to both the initial and subsequent strategies as defined in the new structure.
Before
Stated that "The strategies required under subsection (a) shall be made publicly available" and specified timing for the "first 5-year strategy" and the "second 5-year strategy".
After
States that "The strategies required under subsections (a) and (b) shall be made publicly available" and specified timing "with respect to the strategy required under subsection (a)" and "with respect to the strategy required under subsection (b)".
This streamlines the creation of the Office by directly establishing it rather than requiring a renaming process. It also removes a specific organizational reporting line from the statutory text, providing more flexibility for internal Department of State organization.
Before
Required the Secretary of State to rename the Sports Diplomacy Division as the Office of Sports Diplomacy within 90 days and placed it under the supervision of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Professional and Cultural Exchanges.
After
Establishes the Office of Sports Diplomacy in the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Department of State.
Ensures the Office's functions cover both the initial and subsequent strategies.
Before
Stated that the Office shall "implement each strategy required under section 3(a)".
After
States that the Office shall "implement the strategies required under subsections (a) and (b) of section 3".
Clarifies the annual nature of the reports and corrects a minor error in cross-referencing, ensuring the reports align with the correct strategy.
Before
Titled "Implementation Reports" and referenced "the first strategy required under section 2(a)" (which was a typo, meant 3(a)).
After
Titled "ANNUAL IMPLEMENTATION REPORTS" and referenced "the strategy required under section 3(a)".
Scope
Meaningful expansion or narrowing — Changes are concentrated in the sections defining the sports diplomacy strategy and the Office responsible for its implementation (Sections 3 and 4). — V2 represents a refinement of the implementation mechanisms and strategic planning process rather than a fundamental change in policy direction. The core goal of leveraging sports diplomacy remains the same. — The changes primarily interact within Sections 3 and 4, updating cross-references to reflect the new subsection structure for strategy submission. The removal of the staffing mandate and addition of a sunset provision have direct implications for the Office of Sports Diplomacy.
Impact analysis
Department of State (specifically the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Office of Sports Diplomacy)
Procedural change for establishment; potential resource reduction for staffing.
V2 directly establishes the Office of Sports Diplomacy, rather than requiring the renaming of an existing division. It also removes the mandate for 3 additional full-time equivalent staff.
Congressional Committees (Foreign Relations of the Senate, Foreign Affairs of the House)
Gain more comprehensive information and oversight.
V2 mandates the submission of a subsequent 5-year strategy that includes lessons learned, in addition to the initial strategy.
The Office of Sports Diplomacy (post-establishment)
Procedural change, establishing a finite duration for its current statutory basis.
V2 introduces a 10-year sunset clause for Section 4, which governs the Office's existence and functions.