The Chinese famously, and successfully, targeted the Olympics as a Soft Power opportunity. The British have done the same since 1996, again successfully. If you analyse the motives (see below) they are strikingly similar to those of a good Content Strategy.
One aspect that is not often mentioned is how soft power, or a good content strategy, can also make those inside the tent feel like there are on the winning team, and behave as such. As such it is a superb management technique.