The Partnership

Coming together through a shared goal to increase sports opportunities for women and girls around the world, the U.S. Department of State and ESPN first teamed up in 2012 to develop what is now the Global Sports Mentoring Program. In a joint collaboration, the U.S. Department of State, University of Tennessee Center for Sport, Peace and Society, and espnW work hand-in-hand to organize and implement GSMP: Empower Women through Sports. This mentorship experience pairs emerging female sports leaders with top American executives with the primary goal of increasing opportunities for women and girls around the world to participate in sports and physical activity.

Developed in response to the success of the first program, GSMP: Sport for Community is a collaboration between the U.S. Department of State and the University of Tennessee Center for Sport, Peace and Society. Similar in format to its companion program, Sport for Community pairs emerging male and female sports leaders with business leaders at American NGOs and sports organizations with the key focus on increasing opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in sports and physical activity.