Dr J. Simon Rofe is Reader in Diplomatic and International Studies in the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy, at SOAS University of London: he was the School's Head of Digital Learning 2016-20 and Programme Director for the MA Global Diplomacy since 2012, following a role in the London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games (LOCOG) in 2012. Simon co-founded the field of Sports Diplomacy, through his scholarship, working with key stakeholders: most notably practitioners within government and sporting realms.  He is the author and editor of a numerous books and articles including: 'Sport and Diplomacy: Games within Games', (Manchester: Manchester University Press / USA Oxford University Press 2018) 'The Untold Story of FIFA's Diplomacy and the 1966 World Cup: North Korea, Africa and Sir Stanley Rous', The International History Review, 2019: 'Sport and Diplomacy: A Global Diplomacy Framework.' Diplomacy and Statecraft, 2016; and 'It is a squad game: Manchester United as a diplomatic non-state actor in international affairs.' Sport in Society, 2014. He was awarded an Erasmus+ grant (Nov 2020) to provide a framework from an EU Sports Diplomacy strategy. Simon developed the first MA module globally to address ‘Sport and Diplomacy: More than a Game', founded the Sport, Diplomacy, and Governance Hub, and has established the Global Sports Conversations podcast series.