The San Diego World Affairs Council Presents
The Distinguished Speakers Series
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Location of Event:
UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies
8980 Villa La Jolla Drive
La Jolla, CA 92037
Floor 3
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About the Program:
What happens when sports puts a country at the center of the global conversation?
From the FIFA World Cup to the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, global sporting events are about far more than competition. They are powerful stages for storytelling, national identity, cultural exchange, economic opportunity, and diplomacy.
Next in Sports explores what countries and cities can do with that moment. Major sporting events increasingly shape global perceptions, drive policy decisions, attract investment, build community, and create a legacy that extends far beyond the field of play.
Drawing lessons from the 2026 FIFA World Cup and other major global sporting moments, the conversation will ask: What does successful sports diplomacy look like? How can host cities turn global attention into meaningful and sustainable impact? And as the spotlight shifts from World Cup 2026 toward the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles, what lessons can Southern California carry forward?
About Krystle Norman:
Krystle Norman is a global communications and policy strategist, former U.S. diplomat, and Founder & Principal of Jackson Norman Agency. Jackson Norman Agency is an advisory firm specializing in storytelling, partnerships, and global engagement across sports, media, culture, and policy. With more than 15 years of experience spanning four continents, she has built partnerships and led high-level initiatives, including with the Smithsonian Institution, The Recording Academy, and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). She advises senior leaders, global brands, and mission-driven organizations on how to drive partnerships, strengthen communities, and accelerate relevance and revenue, including using the power of sport and culture to build connections and influence across borders.
About Nacasi Green (Moderator):
Nacasi Green is a strategic partnerships and international development expert with over a decade of experience building public-private partnerships and coordinating international humanitarian responses across Africa, the Caribbean, andSouth EastAsia. She previously served as a Senior Private Sector Engagement Advisor at USAID, the U.S. government’s former lead agency for international humanitarian assistance, where she spearheaded innovativeglobal initiatives mobilizing millions of dollars in program resources and fostering collaboration among governments, businesses, and international organizations.
Her expertise spans humanitarian assistance, disaster risk reduction, global food security, specialized nutrition products, blended financing, and cross-sector partnerships. She believes effective diplomacy extends beyond government-to-government relations, harnessing the power of business, civil society, and international cooperation to build trust, bridge divides, and address our most pressing global challenges.
The San Diego World Affairs Council does not endorse any specific political ideology or viewpoint. As a nonpartisan organization, we are committed to presenting a wide range of perspectives to promote informed, respectful dialogue on complex global issues. The opinions expressed by speakers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Council, its board, or its partners.
