Abstract

This article examines the short-lived 1950s American sport diplomacy campaign in Iran. It analyses the motives behind this policy, the initiatives employed and the extent to which US policymakers regarded them as a success. The piece illustrates how these sport diplomacy initiatives - centred on track, field and other Olympic events - comprised a key facet of a broader public diplomacy campaign aimed at countering negative popular perceptions of the United States in the wake of its involvement in the August 1953 coup. Notable initiatives included the sending of former high-jumper David Albritton to coach Iranian athletes, inviting several US athletes to perform exhibitions and the creation of a newspaper sports supplement. This sport diplomacy campaign, however, was fleeting. With no figure willing to replace Albritton after his 1957 return to Ohio, USIS figures in Iran increasingly relied on cultural initiatives to engage with the general public. The analysis here highlights four key points: first, sport diplomacy’s pivotal function as a tool to strengthen and develop US-Iran relations; second, the role of certain individuals in making and shaping these initiatives; third, the Iranian government’s conduct in facilitating these policies; and finally, that USIS sport diplomacy in Iran was a short-term endeavour.

摘要

本文考察了 1950 年代美国在伊朗短暂的体育外交运动。它分析了这项政策背后的动机、所采用的举措以及美国决策者认为这些举措取得成功的程度。这篇文章说明了这些以田径和其他奥运会项目为中心的体育外交举措如何构成更广泛的公共外交活动的一个关键方面，旨在反击美国参与 1953 年 8 月政变后对美国的负面看法. 值得注意的举措包括派遣前跳高运动员大卫·阿尔布里顿 (David Albritton) 担任伊朗运动员的教练、邀请几名美国运动员参加展览以及创建一份体育副刊。然而，这场体育外交活动转瞬即逝。在 1957 年返回俄亥俄州后，没有人愿意取代阿尔布里顿，伊朗的 USIS 人物越来越依赖文化活动来与公众互动。这里的分析突出了四个关键点：第一，体育外交作为加强和发展美伊关系的工具的关键功能；第二，某些个人在制定和塑造这些举措中的作用；第三，伊朗政府在促进这些政策方面的行为；最后，USIS 在伊朗的体育外交是一项短期努力。某些个人在制定和塑造这些举措中的作用；第三，伊朗政府在促进这些政策方面的行为；最后，USIS 在伊朗的体育外交是一项短期努力。某些个人在制定和塑造这些举措中的作用；第三，伊朗政府在促进这些政策方面的行为；最后，USIS 在伊朗的体育外交是一项短期努力。