The meeting brought together around 40 scholars from different countries and continents to present and discuss research on a broad range of gender-related topics in sport.

ICSSPE President Reflects on the Group’s Development

Prof. Dr Annette R. Hofmann, President of ICSSPE, welcomed participants and reflected on the history and development of the Transnational Working Group.

Prof. Hofmann is one of the co-founders of the group, which was established in 2005 at the University of Copenhagen. Since then, the network has provided an international platform for academic exchange and collaboration on gender and sport.

Her contribution to this year’s meeting highlighted the group’s development over more than two decades and its continuing role in fostering dialogue and research across national and disciplinary boundaries.

International Exchange on Gender and Sport

The conference organisers, Corinna Schmechel, Anna Adlwarth and Pit Gorzolka, developed a diverse academic programme featuring contributions from scholars working across a wide range of gender-related research areas.

The meeting provided an opportunity for researchers to share current work, exchange perspectives and strengthen international networks within the field of gender and sport studies.

One of the highlights of the programme was a screening of the award-winning film Category Woman, followed by a discussion at a local cinema.

Supporting Accessible Academic Exchange

Thanks to funding from zukunft.niedersachsen and the Universitätsbund Göttingen, participation in the meeting was free of charge, and no registration fee was required.

The 15th meeting continued the Working Group’s long-standing commitment to international exchange and collaboration, while providing a platform for critical discussion on gender, sport and society.

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Using a highly participatory approach, participants took part in system-mapping exercises, group discussions, cross-country exchanges, athlete-focused activities, case studies and collaborative action planning. These activities enabled participants to identify key actors within their national sport systems, examine where participation pathways may become difficult or disconnected, and consider practical opportunities for improvement.

A central focus of the workshops was the journey from awareness and entry into sport through participation, development, competition and elite sport. Participants reflected on how different organisations influence these stages and where stronger coordination could help people enter, remain and progress within sport.

The workshops also highlighted the importance of looking at accessibility beyond facilities alone. Transport, adapted equipment, information, communication and local support all play an important role in creating meaningful opportunities to participate.

By the end of the workshops, participants had identified barriers and enabling factors, explored approaches to improving monitoring and developed context-specific actions that could be taken forward within their own organisations and national systems.

Importantly, the workshops created a space for stakeholders from different areas of the sport ecosystem to engage in structured dialogue and peer learning. Participants were encouraged to take their learning forward as multipliers for inclusive change, helping to strengthen connections and participation pathways within their own contexts. This reflects the wider objective of the training to generate tangible actions that can support continued inclusion and dissemination.

🎥 Watch the video here to learn more about the workshops, their activities and their outcomes.

Interested in working with ICSSPE?

ICSSPE welcomes opportunities to exchange knowledge and collaborate with organisations working to advance inclusion, physical education, sport science and sport for development.

For further information or collaboration opportunities:

Website: www.icsspe.org
E-mail: icsspe@icsspe.org

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The event brought together policymakers, representatives of sport organisations and experts to discuss current priorities and challenges in Para Sport. It provided an opportunity to exchange perspectives on how policies and institutional structures can more effectively support meaningful participation for persons with disabilities.

Bringing an International and Evidence-Based Perspective

ICSSPE contributed to the discussion by drawing on its recent work for the joint Council of Europe and European Union project “Sport for All: Promoting Inclusion and Combating Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities”.

Through this project, Para Sport structures, policies and participation pathways were examined across eight countries, providing insights into how different systems approach inclusion and access to sport.

ICSSPE brought these findings into the parliamentary dialogue, highlighting the importance of connecting policy commitments with their practical implementation.

From Policy Commitments to Meaningful Participation

One of the key findings emerging from the project is that the existence of policies, legislation and institutional structures does not automatically result in meaningful participation in sport.

While formal frameworks are essential, challenges often arise when they are translated into practice. These can include gaps in implementation, limited coordination between stakeholders and insufficient access to opportunities at grassroots level.

The transition between recreational and competitive sport can also present barriers, making it more difficult for participants to progress within sport systems.

Another challenge is the availability of reliable participation data. Without sufficient data, it can be difficult to assess whether existing policies and measures are reaching the people they are intended to support.

Strengthening the Link Between Research, Policy and Practice

ICSSPE’s participation in the discussion reflects its commitment to bringing international research and evidence into policy dialogue.

By contributing findings from comparative work across different national contexts, ICSSPE aims to support approaches that move beyond policy commitments and create practical conditions for inclusive, accessible and meaningful participation in sport.

Dialogue between policymakers, sport organisations, researchers and other stakeholders remains essential to identifying implementation gaps and strengthening opportunities for persons with disabilities across all levels of sport.

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Coordinated by INSIDE EU, the project has been awarded Erasmus+ funding and brings together six organisations from Germany, Ireland, Cyprus, Greece, the Netherlands and Portugal.

TMA-CSF aims to develop the first evidence-based, style-agnostic framework for coaching quality in Traditional Martial Arts (TMA). The project will also establish a common coach-education pathway and a cross-style quality-assurance model.

Strengthening Coaching Quality in Traditional Martial Arts

Traditional Martial Arts can provide much more than opportunities for physical activity. At their best, they can support confidence, resilience, compassion, social connection and personal development.

However, the quality of these experiences depends greatly on the coaching environment. Areas such as safeguarding, inclusion, injury management and value-based coaching are therefore essential to creating safe, positive and participant-centred experiences.

TMA-CSF has been developed to address these challenges while encouraging greater cooperation across different martial arts traditions.

A style-agnostic approach will allow knowledge, evidence and good practice to be shared across different disciplines and national contexts. This is particularly important for martial arts organisations that may have less access to established coaching standards, education structures and quality-assurance systems.

From Research to Practical Coaching Resources

Over the next three years, the partnership will combine research, coach education, practical resources, quality assurance and digital learning.

Planned project outputs include:

• an eight-module online coach education course
• practical tools and resources for coaches
• a self-review framework for coaching quality
• an External Quality Assurance/Ambassador pathway
• an AI-supported e-learning platform
• a series of international Coach Quality Conferences

Together, these resources will help translate research and coaching standards into practical support that can be applied across different Traditional Martial Arts settings.

ICSSPE to Lead Key Areas of the Project

ICSSPE will play a major role in TMA-CSF, drawing on its longstanding expertise in sport science, coach education, coaching policy, safeguarding, inclusion and sport governance.

ICSSPE will lead the work package dedicated to coach education and training resources. This will include the development of practical tools designed to help coaches apply the new TMA-CSF framework in their everyday coaching practice.

ICSSPE will also lead the development of the External Quality Assurance/Ambassador pathway, which will support consistent standards and encourage the long-term application of the project’s approach across organisations and martial arts traditions.

In addition, ICSSPE will contribute to the project’s research and quality-assurance activities and will host the first international Coach Quality Conference.

These responsibilities place ICSSPE at the centre of translating the project’s research and framework into practical learning opportunities and quality-assurance mechanisms for coaches and organisations.

Building on ICSSPE’s Experience in Coaching and European Cooperation

TMA-CSF builds on ICSSPE’s extensive experience in European projects and initiatives related to coaching quality, evidence-based sport policy and inclusive sport.

This includes previous involvement in projects such as PEAK, ASPIRE, WHISTLE and iCoachKids, which have contributed to the development of knowledge, tools and policy approaches across sport and coaching.

Through TMA-CSF, ICSSPE will continue to connect research, policy and practice, helping to ensure that evidence-based approaches are transformed into practical resources that coaches and sport organisations can use.

Supporting Safer and More Inclusive Coaching

European collaboration is central to the project. Developing a genuinely style-agnostic framework requires expertise and experience from different countries, martial arts traditions and organisations.

By bringing these perspectives together, TMA-CSF aims to strengthen cooperation across the sector and ensure that high-quality coaching practices can reach organisations with different levels of existing infrastructure.

Through its contribution to the project, ICSSPE will continue to promote safe, inclusive, evidence-based and participant-centred coaching, while supporting greater knowledge exchange across Traditional Martial Arts and the wider sport sector.

Photo: Courtesy of INSIDE EU

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Organised by the German Association for Sport Science (dvs) and the Japan Society of Physical Education, Health and Sport Sciences (JSPEHSS), the symposium will also involve the International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE).

Under the theme “A Changing World: Issues of German-Japanese Sports Science in the Face of Current Challenges”, the symposium will bring together researchers and experts from Germany and Japan to exchange knowledge, strengthen academic cooperation and explore current developments across sport science.

More Than 30 Years of German-Japanese Cooperation

The first German-Japanese Symposium on Sport Science was organised at the German Olympic Institute in Berlin in 1995. The 2026 edition therefore marks more than 30 years of academic exchange and cooperation between the German and Japanese sport science communities.

The most recent symposium took place in 2023 at Nippon Sport Science University in Tokyo. At that event, dvs and JSPEHSS reaffirmed their commitment to continuing their collaboration.

The 2026 symposium will build on this long-standing partnership by creating further opportunities for scientific exchange, networking and the development of joint research projects.

An Open and Interdisciplinary Programme

The conference theme has been intentionally kept broad to reflect the full spectrum of sport science. Contributions from all sub-disciplines are welcome, alongside perspectives from cultural studies.

This open approach aims to encourage interdisciplinary discussion and diverse perspectives on the challenges and opportunities currently shaping sport and society.

Presentations may be delivered in German or English, with English preferred.

Connecting Research and Practice

Alongside academic exchange, the symposium will focus on strengthening connections between sport science research and practical applications in Germany and Japan.

Participants will also have the opportunity to visit the Württemberg State Sports Federation (WLSB) and the Olympic Training Centre (OSP) in Stuttgart. These visits will offer insights into the German sport system and provide further opportunities to connect research with practice.

Through scientific dialogue, international networking and practical exchange, the 12th German-Japanese Symposium on Sport Science aims to strengthen cooperation between the two countries and contribute to the future development of sport science.

For further information about the symposium, including programme and organisational details, kindly visit the official event website here:
German-Japanese Sport Science Symposium 2026

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Organised by the Bharat Centre of Olympic Research & Education (BCORE), the conference will take place under the theme:

“The Athlete at the Heart: A Value-Driven Olympic Ecosystem”

The conference will bring together research, practice and lived experience to explore how the sporting ecosystem can place athletes, their rights and their well-being at the centre of its development.

A Value-Driven Olympic Ecosystem

The conference aims to promote Olympic values and ethics while encouraging interdisciplinary research across areas such as safe sport, athlete welfare and performance.

Another key focus will be athlete representation and empowerment, particularly for young athletes, women and para-athletes.

The event will also bring together stakeholders from across the sporting ecosystem, including researchers, coaches, physical education teachers, administrators and organisations. Discussions will focus on areas such as governance, safeguarding and the development of athlete-centred sporting environments.

Three Days of Discussion and Research

Each day of the conference will focus on a different aspect of the sporting ecosystem.

Day 1 – Athletes and Sports Performance will address topics including safe sport, athlete safeguarding, athlete rights and representation, women and young athletes, inclusion and high-performance environments.

Day 2 – Coaches and the High-Performance Environment will explore safeguarding for coaches and support staff, ethics and values in coaching, mental health and decision-making. The programme will also include research presentations and sessions involving Asian National Olympic Academies and Olympic Studies and Research Centres.

Day 3 – Organisations, Governance and Policy will focus on safe and inclusive governance, integrity in sport, anti-doping, ethical leadership and research-based solutions.

Call for Papers

BCORE invites researchers to submit papers for presentation at the conference.

Important submission dates include:

• Abstract submission deadline: 30 November 2026
• Notification of acceptance: Within 15 working days of abstract submission
• Full paper submission deadline: 31 December 2026

Submission email: olyresearchacademy.submissions@rru.ac.in

For queries: olyresearchacademy.registration@rru.ac.in

Call for Stories

Alongside academic papers, the conference also includes a Call for Stories.

Practitioners, coaches and athletes with experiences or insights related to safe sport are encouraged to contribute. Selected stories will be presented to conference participants, featured on BCORE platforms and included in the conference proceedings with research support from BCORE.

This initiative provides an opportunity for practical and lived experiences to contribute alongside the formal academic programme.

Researchers, practitioners, coaches and other members of the sport and Olympic community are encouraged to participate in the conference and contribute to discussions on developing a safer, more inclusive and value-driven sporting ecosystem.

For further information and registration, visit the BCORE conference registration page.

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The conference invites scholars and researchers to submit academic work exploring sociocultural issues in sport and the Olympic Movement.

Dr Jaime Schultz of The Pennsylvania State University will participate as the conference keynote speaker.

Research Topics

The CSSOR Programme Committee welcomes research addressing a broad range of sport studies topics. These include:

• Race
• Gender
• Politics
• Legacy
• Youth
• Disability
• The Olympic Movement
• Broader sociocultural issues within sport

Researchers working across a wide range of academic disciplines are encouraged to participate. Relevant areas include history, philosophy, management, communication, languages, literature, visual and performing arts, anthropology, sociology, cultural studies, economics, marketing and law.

Proposal Formats

Researchers can submit proposals in two formats.

Individual papers will receive a 15-minute presentation slot. The Programme Committee will place accepted papers into appropriate thematic sessions.

Complete thematic sessions may also be proposed. These typically consist of three 15-minute presentations, followed by commentary and discussion. Sessions containing four thematically connected papers may also be submitted.

The organisers particularly encourage proposals for complete thematic sessions.

Abstract Submission

Abstracts for individual papers should be no more than 500 words. Submissions should describe the focus of the paper and include relevant methodology or evidence, where applicable.

Authors should also provide several keywords, their institutional affiliation, and contact details.

The submission deadline for all presentation proposals is 1 December 2026.

Authors will be informed about the potential inclusion of their papers in the conference programme in mid-December. Submissions will be assessed based on their academic merit, contribution to the field, relevance to the overall programme, and available space.

Proposals should be submitted to: trider@fullerton.edu

Please note that submitting an abstract indicates an intention to register for the conference and to be available to present on either day of the event.

For further information about the conference, registration, accommodation, and venue, please visit the CSSOR website.

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Held in connection with the Chungcheong 2027 FISU World University Games, the conference will bring together researchers, students, sport professionals and representatives of the international university sport community.

The event will provide a platform for research, academic exchange and discussion on the future of university sport.

Shaping the Future of University Sport

The main theme of the conference is:

“Shaping the Future of University Sport through Education, Sustainability, and Innovation”

The conference will explore three main subthemes:

• Empowering Student-Athletes: Education as a Catalyst for Leadership and Excellence
• Advancing Student and Athlete Well-being: Building Supportive and Sustainable Environments
• Innovating for Change: Technology, Industry and New Approaches Transforming University Sport

Through these areas, the conference aims to explore how education, sustainable practices and innovation can contribute to the continued development of university sport.

Call for Abstracts

Researchers and other members of the university sport community are invited to contribute to the conference programme by submitting their work.

Key dates include:

• Abstract submission: 20 July–1 December 2026
• Notification of abstract review results: 14 February 2027
• Early registration: 15 February–30 April 2027
• General registration: 1 May–15 June 2027
• Conference: 3–5 August 2027

The FISU World Conference promotes scientific exchange on university sport among researchers, students, sport organisations and other stakeholders. The programme traditionally combines academic research with opportunities for international dialogue and knowledge exchange.

Researchers and practitioners interested in contributing to discussions on the future of university sport are encouraged to submit an abstract before the deadline.

For further information and abstract submission, visit the official Chungcheong 2027 FISU World Conference website.

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The ISHPES Congress 2026 brought together more than 100 researchers from over 20 countries, providing an international platform for exchange, discussion, and research on the history of sport and physical education.

National Taiwan Normal University previously hosted the ISHPES Congress in 2013. This year, the university welcomed the international ISHPES community once again under the leadership of Congress Chair Prof. Dr Mei-Chun Lin.

A Long-Standing Partnership Between ICSSPE and ISHPES

ISHPES is a long-standing member of ICSSPE, and the two organisations have maintained a close relationship over many years.

This connection was particularly visible during this year’s Congress, with representatives of ICSSPE contributing to the academic programme and receiving recognition for their work in the field of sport history.

ICSSPE President Delivers Keynote Address

Prof. Dr Annette R. Hofmann, President of ICSSPE, delivered a keynote address entitled:

“She Was Her Own Man: Liselott Diem, an International Advocate for Women’s Sport and Physical Activity”

Her keynote explored the life and contribution of Liselott Diem, a significant figure in the international development of women’s sport and physical activity.

Liselott Diem, the wife of renowned sports politician Carl Diem, made important contributions to international sport organisations during her career. She served as President of the International Association of Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women (IAPESGW) from 1965 to 1981. In addition, she became a member of the ICSSPE Council in 1965.

Prof. Hofmann’s keynote therefore highlighted an important part of the history shared by the international sport, physical education and women’s sport movements.

Recognition for Prof. Keiko Ikeda

The Congress also marked an important achievement for Prof. Keiko Ikeda, member of the ICSSPE Development Board, who received an ISHPES Award in recognition of her outstanding academic work in sport history.

Prof. Ikeda also delivered a keynote entitled:

“The Itinerary to Explore Headwaters of the New Left’s Cultural Studies and the History of Physical Education and Sport until 2026”

The recognition reflects her significant academic contribution to the study and understanding of sport history.

Strengthening International Academic Cooperation

ICSSPE congratulates Prof. Keiko Ikeda on receiving this distinction and thanks ISHPES and National Taiwan Normal University for bringing together researchers and experts from across the world.

The participation of ICSSPE representatives at the ISHPES Congress 2026 once again demonstrates the importance of collaboration between international organisations, researchers and academic institutions in advancing knowledge and strengthening dialogue across sport, physical education and related fields.

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The training is a free, fully online, 12-week capacity-building programme designed to equip participants with the knowledge, skills and practical tools needed to promote and champion Sport for All within their communities.

Participants who successfully complete the programme will receive a TAFISA certification.

Who Can Apply?

The programme welcomes participants from a wide range of backgrounds, including:

• Students and young people
• Volunteers
• Sport enthusiasts and community advocates
• Sport professionals and practitioners
• Anyone with an interest in Sport for All, regardless of age, background or previous experience

What Does the Training Include?

Participants will benefit from:

• A limited online TAFISA Certified Leadership Course
• 12 weeks of online training
• Training available in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese
• TAFISA certification upon successful completion
• Participation completely free of charge

The KESCAB Sport for All Leadership Training forms part of the KESCAB Online Hub project and aims to strengthen capacity among individuals who want to contribute to more inclusive and accessible opportunities for sport and physical activity.

KESCAB is an Erasmus+ project led by TAFISA, with a consortium including ICSSPE, the Sports Union of Slovenia, España se Mueve, CNOSF, Laureus Sport for Good Foundation, the Knowledge Centre for Sport and Physical Activity Netherlands, the Portuguese Sports Confederation, and the Hungarian Leisure Sport Association.

Register Your Interest

Interested participants can register for the course in their preferred language:

English: Open Call for Interest: KESCAB Online Leadership Courses in Sport for All (EN) – [Fill in form]

French: Inscription: Cours en ligne de KESCAB sur le leadership dans le sport pour tous (FR) – [Fill in form]

Spanish: Inscripción: Cursos online del proyecto KESCAB sobre liderazgo en el deporte para todos (ES) – [Fill in form]

Portuguese: Inscrições: Cursos online de liderança da KESCAB no desporto para todos (PT) – [Fill in form]

Take the opportunity to develop your leadership skills and help advance Sport for All in your community.

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