Exclusive: Atlantic Council launches Power of Sports Center with Kalshi backing
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The Atlantic Council is launching a new organization to strategically elevate the importance of policy and statecraft involving sports on a global scale, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: Sports operate at the nexus of geopolitics, financial power, technology and media, creating space for an influential policy voice across key sectors.
Driving the news: The Atlantic Council, a nonpartisan think tank based in Washington, D.C., is partnering with the likes of prediction market Kalshi, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America to launch the Power of Sports Center.
- The new organization will convene world leaders, business executives, investors, league officials and athletes to "develop practical ideas that move discussions toward action and harness the power of sports for good," an Atlantic Council spokesperson tells Axios.
Zoom in: Kalshi said it will leverage its prediction markets to "measure the impact of major sports moments" like the Olympics, F1, the Super Bowl and the World Cup to aid the Power of Sports Center's efforts.
- In addition to Kalshi, Goldman and BofA, the center's other initial founders include Atlantic Council chair John F.W. Rogers, executive vice chair Adrienne Arsht, Limak Holding and Super Technologies.
Friction point: Kalshi's partnership with the Atlantic Council comes as the prediction market grows rapidly while facing scrutiny from critics who say it is helping fuel gambling culture.
- The Atlantic Council spokesperson tells Axios that "prediction markets reflect the ever-growing role of technology and data in athletic competition" and that it "will engage with a range of consequential actors who are shaping the global sports economy, including Kalshi."
- "Every donor must agree to the Atlantic Council's Intellectual Independence Policy, which ensures the Atlantic Council retains strict intellectual independence for all of its projects and publications," the spokesperson added. "This means donors agree to the Council maintaining independent control of the content and conclusions of any products resulting from sponsored projects."
