GREAT SPORT AS A TOOL OF "SOFT POWER" IN FOREIGN POLICY OF STATES

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the phenomenon of sport in the context of the "soft power" used by the state to promote its positive image, to demonstrate national pride and social achievements. The use of sport as an instrument of "soft power" is a long tradition, both in the USSR and in Russia. At the same time, nowadays, Russia's ability to use great sport in foreign policy has been struck by the "meldonia scandal". Further opportunities and prerequisites for using Russian sport as an instrument of diplomacy in the international arena dependon the way how quickly and successfully Russia will manage to overcome this crisis.