Cablegate: Proposal for U.S. Speaker at 2006 Otago

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 WELLINGTON 000793

SIPDIS

STATE FOR IIP/G/EA - SPRIETO; EAP/PD - AEGRIMES;
EAP/ANP - DRICCI

E.O.12958:N/A
TAGS: OIIP OEXC SCUL
SUBJECT: Proposal for U.S. Speaker at 2006 Otago
Foreign Policy School

1. Post requests U.S. speaker Professor Susan
Brownell, Chair, Dept. of Anthropology at St. Louis
University, Missouri, in support of MPP Goal 07-03,
Mutual Understanding. We would ideally like this
visit to be for seven program days, Wednesday, June
21 - Tuesday, June 27; third quarter FY2006.

2. Justification and Objective: Since its inception
in 1966, the University of Otago's Foreign Policy
School (OFPS) has developed an international
reputation, drawing top speakers from around the
world. Government officials from the Prime
Minister's Office, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of
External Relations and Trade, academics,
journalists, diplomats, members of the private
sector, and interested public regularly participate.
The theme for 2006 is "Sport and Foreign Policy in a
Globalizing World," which the organizing committee
considers an excellent follow-on from the UN's
declaration of 2005 as the "International Year of
Sport and Education." The OFPS believes that
increasing recognition is being made of the role of
sport in shaping identities, policies, and
lifestyles worldwide. Post also recognizes the
importance that China places on sports in its lead-
up to the Olympics in Beijing and its foreign
relations.

Professor Brownell's expertise would dovetail
perfectly with the speaking topics of other keynote
speakers at this 41st Foreign Policy School
conference and would provide it with a valuable
opportunity to discuss relevant issues with this
renowned academic, who is regarded internationally
as an expert on US-China foreign relations, sports,
and culture. Brownell is recognized also for her
own sporting abilities (a nationally-ranked track
and field athlete in the US before she joined the
track team at Beijing University) and for lecturing
in East Asian Studies. Post looks forward to
programming her with both academic and sports
organizations.

3. Professor Brownell is currently undertaking
research on "The Body in Consumer Culture in
Beijing." Her writings include "Training the Body
for China: Sports in the Moral Order of the People's
Republic." This is the first book on Chinese sports
based on fieldwork in China by a Westerner. She is
a member of the Research Council of the Olympic
Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland. As an expert on
Chinese sports, she has written for different media
including Sports Illustrated, The Los Angeles Times,
The Atlanta Journal and Constitution, "The Sports
Factor" (ABC), "The Ultimate Athlete" on the
Discovery Channel, and China Central Television.

4. Activity Date, Fiscal Year, and Quarter: This is
an FY06 program requested for the Third Quarter
between June 23 and 26, 2006.

5. Audience and Types of Events: It is expected that
the audiences for this program will be members of
parliament and their policy makers, economists,
academics, the media, members of the New Zealand
Institute of International Relations in three of the
main centers, and sports organizations. It is also
anticipated that Professor Brownell will visit the
university campuses in Wellington, Auckland, and
Dunedin and undertake several media and
representational events while in New Zealand.

6. Topics: While speech topics are to be decided in
consultation with Professor Brownell, it is expected
that the 41st Foreign Policy School would really
benefit significantly from the first-hand insights
and knowledge of such a distinguished scholar.

7. Please Note: The conference conveners have been
in contact with Professor Brownell and confirm that
she is available and interested in traveling to New
Zealand at this time.

8. Professor Brownell's contact details:
Email: sbrownell@umsl.edu
Phone: 314-516-6451
Address: The Chair of the Anthropology Department
507 Clark Hall, UM-St. Louis
8001 Natural Bridge Road
St. Louis, MO 63121
USA

9. Post Project Officer: Control Officer: Christine
Vivian.
Office Phone: 644-462-6112; Fax: 644-499-0490
Email: cvivian@actrix.gen.nz or VIVIANC@STATE.GOV.

10. Funding: Post will fund the speaker's
international and domestic travel, per diem, and
honoraria. Please advise soonest.
BURNETT

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