The conference focuses on safer and healthier sport for all children and young people, bringing together discussions on protection from violence and abuse with the conditions needed to support positive, inclusive and meaningful participation in sport.

Turning Policy Commitments into Practice

A central question is how commitments to children’s safety and well-being can be translated into everyday practice across sport systems and organisations.

This requires more than the existence of policies and safeguarding frameworks. It also depends on whether protection measures are effective in practice, whether those responsible for implementing them receive sufficient support, and whether evidence is used to guide decisions.

ICSSPE Brings an Evidence-Based Perspective

As a member of the EPAS Consultative Committee, ICSSPE contributes expertise from sport science, education and sport practice to the discussion.

ICSSPE’s contribution focuses particularly on the role of evidence in strengthening safe and healthy sport. This includes examining whether protection measures achieve their intended outcomes, supporting those responsible for implementation, and connecting research findings with policy and decision-making.

Through its participation, ICSSPE continues to promote approaches that place the safety, well-being and positive participation of children and young people at the centre of sport policy and practice.

The conference also provides an important opportunity to exchange perspectives with governments, fellow Consultative Committee members and the wider sport community on how safer and healthier sporting environments can be strengthened in practice.

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The webinar will explore how sport science, physical education and international cooperation can respond to the profound social, technological and geopolitical changes shaping our world.

Rethinking the Future of Sport Science and Physical Education

How can sport science and physical education remain relevant in a world undergoing rapid transformation?

Growing inequalities, technological developments, including the increasing influence of artificial intelligence, evolving public health challenges and geopolitical uncertainty are reshaping the contexts in which sport, physical activity and physical education operate.

These developments raise important questions about the responsibilities of the global sport science community and the role of research, education, policy and professional practice in responding to contemporary challenges.

As these changes continue to unfold, there is a growing need to strengthen collaboration across disciplines, institutions and international networks.

An International Dialogue on Emerging Challenges and Opportunities

This sport science webinar will bring together international perspectives from sport science, physical education, ethics, policy and international cooperation to reflect on emerging priorities and shared responsibilities.

The discussion will explore several interconnected themes:

• Research, policy and practice: Strengthening the translation of scientific knowledge into meaningful policies and practical applications.
• Equity and inclusion: Addressing inequalities and promoting more inclusive opportunities in sport and physical education.
• Technological and societal transformation: Understanding how emerging technologies, artificial intelligence and broader societal changes are influencing the sector.
• International cooperation: Exploring opportunities for greater collaboration and knowledge exchange within the global sport science and physical education community.

Through an open strategic dialogue, the webinar will consider how ICSSPE and its international network can contribute to a more inclusive, evidence-informed and collaborative future.

Meet the Moderator: Prof. Dr. Ruth Crabtree

The webinar will be moderated by Prof. Dr. Ruth Crabtree, Head of the School of Sport and Physical Activity at Sheffield Hallam University, United Kingdom.

Prof. Crabtree is President of the World Association for Sport Management (WASM) and a member of the ICSSPE Executive Board.

With more than 30 years of experience in higher education, she is internationally recognised for her contributions to sport management education, teaching and learning, and the development of educational policy and practice.

Her international work places particular emphasis on teaching excellence, equality, diversity, inclusion and social justice. Her contributions have been recognised through the European Association for Sport Management (EASM) Distinguished Service Award.

Further information about the webinar panellists will be announced shortly.

Webinar Details and Registration

Event: Rethinking Sport Science, Physical Education and International Cooperation in a Changing World

Date: Tuesday, 10 November 2026

Time: 12:30–13:30 CET

Duration: 60 minutes

Format: Online via Microsoft Teams

Moderator: Prof. Dr. Ruth Crabtree

The webinar offers an opportunity for researchers, educators, sport professionals, policymakers and international organisations to reflect on current challenges, exchange perspectives and explore opportunities for future cooperation.

We invite you to join this important international conversation.

Register for the webinar here!

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The three-day conference will bring together researchers to explore the history of women in skiing and winter sports from an international and socio-cultural perspective.

Exploring Women’s Contributions to Skiing

Women have participated in skiing since its development as a modern activity in the late nineteenth century. Historical sources even document women taking part in ski jumping in Norway during this period. However, the contributions of women to the development of skiing, as well as the biographies and experiences of female skiers, have received comparatively limited attention within research on skiing history and its socio-cultural development. Only more recently has greater academic attention been given to women’s roles within the history of the sport. The conference aims to contribute to this growing field of research by examining women and skiing across different historical periods and national contexts.

A Broader Perspective on Gender and Winter Sport

While women and skiing will form the central focus, the conference also welcomes contributions addressing broader questions of gender in skiing, including masculinities and transgender perspectives. Submissions relating more generally to the history of skiing and winter sports are also encouraged, allowing for a broad and interdisciplinary discussion of the social and cultural development of winter sport. The conference is supported by the Transnational Working Group for the Study of Gender and Sport.

Call for Abstracts

Researchers interested in contributing to the conference are invited to submit an abstract of no more than 250 words.

Abstract submission deadline: 15 November 2026
Conference dates: 23–25 February 2027
Venue: Dalarna University, Campus Falun, Sweden
Participation fee: €85, including coffee breaks and lunches

Abstracts should be submitted to:

Marit Stub Nybelius: mny@du.se
Prof. Dr. Annette R. Hofmann: nettehof@web.de

The organising committee consists of Marit Stub Nybelius and ICSSPE President Prof. Dr Annette R. Hofmann. The scientific committee includes Daniel Alsarve, Isak Lidström, Susan Bandy and Christof Thöny. Researchers working in sport history, gender studies, sociology, cultural studies, and related fields are encouraged to contribute to this international exchange on the history and development of skiing and winter sport.

The post Call for Abstracts: The History of Women in Skiing and Winter Sports appeared first on ICSSPE.

“A Changing World: Issues of German-Japanese Sports Science in the Face of Current Challenges”

The symposium reflected the long-standing academic relationship between the German and Japanese sport science communities, which has developed over many years through doctoral studies, research stays, and ongoing scientific exchange.

Strengthening German-Japanese Academic Cooperation

The German-Japanese Sport Science Symposia are generally held on a biennial basis and provide an important platform for academic exchange between researchers from both countries.

This year’s symposium was organised by ICSSPE President Prof. Dr Annette R. Hofmann together with Aiko Möhwald of Saarland University.

Around 40 scholars from five countries took part in the event, including a 15-member delegation from Japan.

Discussing Current Challenges in Sport Science

Under the conference theme, participants exchanged perspectives on a range of contemporary issues in sport science.

The programme included discussions and contributions in areas such as:

• sport pedagogy
• sport history
• movement science

The symposium provided an opportunity for researchers to share current work, strengthen international networks and explore the challenges facing sport science in a changing social and academic environment.

ICSSPE Supports International Scientific Exchange

ICSSPE supported the symposium, reinforcing its commitment to international cooperation and scientific exchange across sport science and physical education.

Through the involvement of ICSSPE President Annette Hofmann, the symposium also highlighted ICSSPE’s role in promoting dialogue between researchers, institutions and national sport science communities.

The 12th German-Japanese Sport Science Symposium continued a long-standing tradition of cooperation and provided another valuable opportunity to strengthen academic links between Germany and Japan.

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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

The post Sport for All: Capacity-Building Workshops Strengthen Inclusive Para Sport Systems appeared first on ICSSPE.

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.

The post ICSSPE Contributes to German Parliamentary Dialogue on Para Sport appeared first on ICSSPE.

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

The post ICSSPE Joins New Erasmus+ Project on Quality Coaching in Traditional Martial Arts appeared first on ICSSPE.

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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