Dyplomacja sportowa w procesie łagodzenia konfliktów międzynarodowych

The aim of the article is to theoretically analyse the issue of sports diplomacy from the perspective of its util­ity in easing international tensions. The research encompass clarification of the term sports diplomacy and investigation of two ways of using it in order to ease international tensions: changing perception of hostile states within particular societies and creating opportunities for political leaders from antagonistic countries to meet, which have been described with the use of actual historical cases.