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.

The post Call for Trainees: Join the KESCAB Sport for All Leadership Training appeared first on ICSSPE.

The article, “The Global Physical Literacy Action Framework: Process and Outcomes,” documents the international consensus process that informed the framework’s development and highlights key priorities for strengthening physical literacy across research, policy, education, and practice.

Developing the Global Physical Literacy Framework

The development of the GloPL Action Framework brought together 59 physical literacy academics from 46 countries, alongside representatives from international societies and organisations.

Through a collaborative Delphi process, participants identified five interconnected areas for action:

• Advocacy
• Practice
• Education
• Assessment
• Research

These priorities form the foundation of the framework and provide a shared direction for organisations, researchers, educators, practitioners and policymakers working to promote meaningful and lifelong engagement in physical activity.

The newly published article also explores important issues for the future of physical literacy, including the need for shared principles across contexts, stronger connections with physical education, appropriate assessment approaches, improved translation into practice, and greater attention to implementation research.

Advancing Physical Literacy Through Global Action

Since its launch, the GloPL Framework has been shared through several international platforms, including AIESEP Connect and the EU 2.0 SHARE Forum, helping to expand dialogue around its application in research, policy and practice.

ICSSPE contributed to the broader development and dissemination of the framework alongside international partners and continues to support collaboration between researchers, practitioners, educators, policymakers and organisations working to advance physical literacy globally.

The publication in Sports Medicine provides an important evidence-based resource for stakeholders seeking to understand how the framework was developed and how its recommendations can support coordinated action across different sectors and contexts.

You can find the article here:
The Global Physical Literacy Action Framework: Process and Outcomes – Sports Medicine

You can access the framework below:
The Global Physical Literacy Action Framework

The post Global Physical Literacy Action Framework Published in Sports Medicine appeared first on ICSSPE.

Published in the year of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games and four years ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Handbook will provide a timely interdisciplinary resource examining the changing relationship between global sport events, society, policy, place and the environment.

Bringing together approximately 30 chapters from across a range of disciplines, Olympic Transformations aims to combine research excellence with practical relevance. Contributions will explore issues at the forefront of Olympic studies while considering how research can inform policy, planning and practice surrounding major international sporting events.

The editors seek to produce a comprehensive Handbook that is broad in coverage, timely in scope and critical in insight. Contributions should demonstrate originality and clear relevance to academic, practitioner and stakeholder audiences.

Call for Chapters

Researchers are invited to submit expressions of interest proposing a chapter for consideration in the Handbook. The open call follows the confirmation of a number of specifically invited chapters and is intended to provide researchers from the wider academic community with an opportunity to contribute to the publication.

While proposals addressing the wider themes of the Handbook are welcomed, the editors particularly encourage expressions of interest in the following areas:

Enabling sport, performance, health and inclusion

• Athlete talent search and identification
• Performance and technology innovation

Connecting people and place

• The Olympic Truce: envisioning a peaceful society in a troubled world
• Politicisation of Olympic bidding
• Sportswashing and human rights

A better future for our environment

• Olympic Games and climate change action
• Transforming urban infrastructure
• Olympic transformation: from sustainability to regeneration

Expression of interest requirements

Expressions of interest should include:

• Proposed chapter title
• Abstract of 250–300 words
• Name, institutional affiliation and contact information of the author or authors

Submission deadline: Tuesday, 18 August 2026

For further information or enquiries, please reach out directly to Griffith University at olympic_transformations@griffith.edu.au

The post Call for Chapters: Routledge Handbook Olympic Transformations – Connection, Place, and Legacy appeared first on ICSSPE.

Hosted by Fontys University of Applied Sciences on behalf of AIESEP, the conference aims to strengthen connections between academic knowledge and everyday professional practice. Alongside traditional research presentations, the programme will feature interactive Research-to-Practice Labs and Match-Making Sessions designed to support knowledge exchange, practical application and new international collaborations.

Call for abstracts opens in September 2026

The call for abstracts will open on 1 September 2026, with submissions accepted until 1 December 2026. Authors will be informed about the outcome of their submissions by 15 February 2027. All proposals must be submitted in English through the conference’s online abstract submission system.

The organisers welcome original and previously unpublished contributions addressing sport pedagogy, physical and health education, physical activity and education across the lifespan. Eligible contributions may include basic and applied research, professional practice, clinical studies, epidemiological research and systematic reviews or meta-analyses.

Conference themes include:

• Pedagogy and meaningful learning in physical education
• Bridging research and everyday teaching practice
• Teacher education, professional learning and mentoring
• Curriculum, assessment and innovation
• Equity, diversity, inclusion and social justice
• Physical activity, health and wellbeing
• Digitalisation, technology and artificial intelligence in physical education
• Policy, leadership and advocacy in physical education and sport

Different formats for research, practice and collaboration

Abstracts may be submitted for oral presentations, poster presentations, symposia, pre-conference sessions, Research-to-Practice Labs and Match-Making Sessions.

Oral presentations will consist of a ten-minute presentation followed by five minutes of discussion. Poster proposals will be presented during dedicated interactive sessions, while symposia will bring together three to six presenters for a 75-minute session addressing a shared theme.

Pre-conference proposals may take the form of workshops, seminars, masterclasses or collaborative working sessions lasting between two and four hours. Research-to-Practice Labs, offered in 45- or 90-minute formats, should enable participants to explore a practical, evidence-informed product or approach, such as an assessment instrument, pedagogical resource, digital application, instructional model or professional-development tool.

Match-Making Sessions will provide up to 45 minutes for participants to introduce new research ideas, methodological initiatives, potential review projects or other proposals for which they are seeking international partners. Most individual abstracts are limited to 300 words and should include three to five keywords. Research abstracts should generally be structured around purpose, methods or approach, results and conclusion.

Submissions will be evaluated according to their relevance to the AIESEP community and conference theme, academic or professional quality, clarity, originality, practical significance and contribution to equity, diversity, inclusion and global perspectives.

Programme and networking opportunities

The conference begins on Monday, 12 July, with pre-conference sessions, an opening ceremony and an informal welcome gathering. The main programme will include symposia, keynote addresses, oral and poster presentations, practical sessions and the AIESEP General Assembly. The names of the keynote speakers will be announced once their participation has been confirmed.

A social programme will complement the academic sessions, including welcome drinks and food trucks, an evening with live music, an inclusive sporting activity and a closing dinner and party on Friday, 16 July. Participation in the sporting activity and closing dinner is included in the conference ticket, although some refreshments and other expenses must be covered individually.

For more details about the event and call for abstracts, please visit the official website here: Home – AIESEP 2027

The post AIESEP 2027 International Conference to Connect Research and Practice in Physical Education appeared first on ICSSPE.

Taking place from 14:00 to 18:00, the forum will bring together researchers and educators to examine how learning can extend beyond conventional classrooms and digital environments. Participants will explore educational experiences created through movement, travel, outdoor activities, cultural encounters and direct engagement with people and places.

Reconsidering where and how learning takes place

At the centre of the forum is the idea of “wanderlust”: deliberately turning towards the world itself as a place of learning.

The event approaches educational spaces in a broad sense, encompassing outdoor environments, walking and climbing, tourism, theatre, forests, streets, conversations with unfamiliar people and the creative documentation of lived experiences.

The programme will consider what may be lost as education becomes increasingly shaped by efficiency-driven and screen-based environments. It will also examine what learners can regain by slowing down, moving through physical spaces and engaging directly with different communities, cultures and natural environments.

Drawing on the concept of voluntary simplicity, the forum will investigate how experiences that may initially appear less efficient or technologically sophisticated can nevertheless provide rich educational opportunities. Discussions will address transdisciplinary co-creation, intercultural communication, walking workshops, outdoor and forest education, media production and travel as a means of developing civic and political understanding.

Keynote on Alpine clubs and the history of wanderlust

The keynote address will be delivered by Dr Andreas Brugger of the Montafon Archive at the Montafon Folk Museum Schruns in Vorarlberg, Austria.

His presentation, entitled “The Alpine Clubs in the Eastern Alps between infrastructural development of the mountain environment, transfer of knowledge and ongoing progression of ‘wanderlust’ from the 1860s until World War I,” will explore the historical relationship between mountain environments, knowledge exchange and cultures of travel and exploration.

The forum will be introduced by Professor Keiko Ikeda of Hokkaido University’s Faculty of Education and coordinated by Dale Whitfield of the university’s Institute for Academic Innovation.

Other contributors will include scholars from Hokkaido University, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and the Montafon Folk Museum, bringing perspectives from education, tourism, media, communication, cultural history and academic innovation.

Event details

Date: Friday, 7 August 2026
Time: 14:00–18:00
Venue: Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85238155250?pwd=iQCavkdnJNglLaJb6mqkRVtjtamoEq.1
Meeting ID: 852 3815 5250
Passcode: 937203

The forum is hosted by the Laboratory of Theory of Bodily Culture, Faculty of Education, Hokkaido University, with support from the Sport & Peace UNESCO Club Japan.

For more information refer to the pdf document here Educational_Spaces, or please contact Professor Keiko Ikeda at kikeda@edu.hokudai.ac.jp.

The post International Forum at Hokkaido University to Explore Embodied Learning and Educational Spaces appeared first on ICSSPE.

The 2026 symposium marked ASAPE’s 19th biennial meeting and brought together researchers, educators, practitioners, students and policy-makers working in adapted physical education, adapted physical activity, rehabilitation and exercise science. As the Asian branch of the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA), ASAPE provides an important platform for advancing equitable opportunities in physical activity and sport for people with disabilities and other special needs.

Ensuring that innovation supports inclusion

Speaking in his roles as ICSSPE Executive Director and Disability Community Liaison for IFAPA, Patrick Stolpmann emphasised that physical activity, physical education and sport must be accessible to everyone, regardless of ability.

His opening remarks addressed the symposium’s theme, “New Tech, New Map,” and the growing potential of technologies such as artificial intelligence, wearable devices, robotics, virtual reality and digital health to support adapted physical activity, rehabilitation, education and participation.

While acknowledging the opportunities created by technological progress, he stressed that innovation should not be treated as an end in itself. New technologies must be developed and applied in ways that are inclusive, ethical and accessible.

He also highlighted the importance of actively involving people with disabilities in the design and implementation of technological solutions. Their lived experiences, priorities and needs must help shape how innovation is used in physical education, sport and rehabilitation.

“Technology can open new possibilities, but meaningful progress will depend on whether those possibilities are available to everyone,” Mr. Stolpmann said. “Inclusion, dignity and equal opportunity must remain at the centre of future developments.”

Connecting research, practice and policy

Throughout the three-day symposium, participants explored how emerging technologies could contribute to the future of adapted physical education and exercise. The programme created opportunities to present research, exchange professional experience and discuss new approaches to education, rehabilitation and participation.

The discussions also underlined the need to connect scientific research more closely with practical implementation. Effective innovation requires cooperation between researchers, educators, practitioners, technology developers, policy-makers and, most importantly, people with disabilities.

This approach closely reflects ICSSPE’s vision of educating for a sustainable quality of life for all through physical activity and sport. It also aligns with the Council’s commitment to strengthening international cooperation and supporting the exchange of knowledge between science, education, policy and practice.

Strengthening international cooperation

Participation in ASAPE 2026 provided an important opportunity for ICSSPE to deepen its engagement with the international adapted physical activity community and reinforce its longstanding relationship with IFAPA.

By contributing to the symposium, ICSSPE supported international dialogue on how research and technological development can be translated into inclusive and accessible opportunities for participation.

The ASAPE Symposium is organised every two years and provides participants with opportunities to exchange knowledge and experience in research, professional preparation, advocacy and service delivery in the field of adapted physical activity.

The post ICSSPE champions inclusive innovation at ASAPE 2026 in Shanghai appeared first on ICSSPE.

Under the theme “A Changing World: Issues of German-Japanese Sports Science in the Face of Current Challenges”, the symposium will provide an international platform for dialogue across the full spectrum of sport science disciplines. By intentionally keeping the conference theme broad, the organisers aim to encourage contributions from diverse research areas, fostering interdisciplinary discussion and innovative perspectives on the challenges and opportunities shaping sport today.

The symposium builds on a long-standing partnership that began with the first German-Japanese Sport Science Symposium in Berlin in 1995. Since then, the event has become an important forum for strengthening scientific exchange, promoting collaborative research, and connecting sport science with practical applications in both countries. Following the successful 2023 symposium at Nippon Sport Science University in Tokyo, the 2026 edition will continue this tradition while expanding opportunities for international networking and future joint projects. Participants will also have the opportunity to visit the Württemberg State Sports Association (WLSB) and the Olympic Training Center (OSP) in Stuttgart, providing valuable insights into the German sport system.

Call for Papers

Researchers are invited to submit abstracts for 20-minute oral presentations. Presentations may be delivered in German or English, with English being the preferred language.

Abstract submission requirements

Abstracts (maximum 250 words) should include:

• Title of the presentation
• Name(s), institutional affiliation(s) and email address(es) of the author(s)
• A summary of the proposed paper (maximum 250 words)

Submission deadline: 31 July 2026

Abstracts should be submitted by email to:

Prof. Dr. Annette R. Hofmann: nettehof@ph-ludwigsburg.de

Registration

Conference fees are:

• Regular participants: €120
• PhD students: €80
• Retired academics: €80

The registration fee includes two lunches, one conference dinner, and public transportation for the visit to the Olympic Training Center (OSP). Registration details will be shared following the acceptance of abstracts, and a list of recommended hotels will be provided to participants.

Join the conversation

ICSSPE supports this international symposium, which continues to strengthen scientific cooperation between Germany and Japan while advancing knowledge across the sport sciences. We encourage researchers from around the world to contribute their work and take part in this unique opportunity for academic exchange, collaboration and networking.

For further information, please refer to the official call for papers here: Call for Papers dt.-jap. 2026

The post Call for Papers: 12th German-Japanese Sport Science Symposium 2026 appeared first on ICSSPE.

During the visit, ICSSPE’s Executive Director met with Yong Zhijun, Secretary General of the National Paralympic Committee of China and Deputy Director General of the Department of Sports of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation. Their exchange provided an opportunity to present ICSSPE’s international network and discuss the potential for collaboration in areas related to inclusive sport, physical activity and the Paralympic movement. The China Disabled Persons’ Federation plays an important coordinating role in the development of disability and Paralympic sport in China.

Further discussions took place with representatives of the General Administration of Sport of China, including Wang Xinzhai, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Education, and Zhang Xinwei from its Education Division. The meeting addressed ICSSPE’s role in connecting organisations from sport science, physical education and sport policy, as well as its potential to support international exchanges, shared learning and joint initiatives.

Mr. Stolpmann also met with Professor Zhao Jiexiu of the China Institute of Sport Science. Zhao is Deputy Director of the Institute and serves as Vice-President for Asia of the International Council for Coaching Excellence. The discussion highlighted the value of closer exchanges between Chinese and international experts and institutions, particularly in sport science, research and coach development.

The last meeting was held at the Beijing Sport University, with President Zhang Jian and a professor from the China Institute of Sport and Health Science. The conversation explored the university’s extensive work in sport education, research and athlete development and considered how ICSSPE could provide a platform for international academic cooperation and knowledge exchange. Beijing Sport University is one of China’s leading specialised institutions for sport education and research.

The visit also included a campus tour, during which Mr. Stolpmann was introduced to the university’s sport rehabilitation facilities and kinesiology department. He additionally visited one of its major indoor sports halls, where the university volleyball team was training. An informal conversation with the athletes and staff covered university sport and the team’s recent silver-medal performance at the national championships.

Across all meetings, ICSSPE presented its mission, international membership and activities, emphasising the Council’s capacity to serve as a global platform for exchange, learning and collaborative projects. The discussions demonstrated a shared interest in strengthening connections between China and ICSSPE’s international network in fields including sport science, physical education, coaching, inclusion and institutional development.

The visit represents an important step in expanding ICSSPE’s engagement with Chinese sport organisations and academic institutions. ICSSPE looks forward to continuing these conversations and identifying concrete opportunities for future cooperation.

The post ICSSPE strengthens cooperation and exchange in China appeared first on ICSSPE.

The conference will showcase the latest evidence-based, practical and innovative approaches to protecting athlete health, with a strong emphasis on prevention. Building on the success of previous editions, the programme will prioritise actionable, practitioner-oriented content that delegates can apply directly in their daily work.

Reflecting the breadth of athlete health protection, the conference will cover clinical and non-clinical disciplines, including sports medicine, sports science, nutrition, mental health and athlete safeguarding. The organisers are committed to developing a globally representative, diverse and balanced programme, and particularly encourage proposals that bring forward early- and mid-career researchers, presenters from low-resource and underrepresented regions, and gender-balanced faculty.

Call for Proposals Now Open

The call for proposals for invited speakers is now open. Proposals are invited for keynote lectures, symposia and head-to-head debates. The deadline for submissions is 1 October 2026.

The conference is multidisciplinary, and proposals are welcomed from all fields relevant to the protection of athlete health, including the prevention of injuries, illnesses, mental health problems, and harassment and abuse in sport.

Proposals should be clearly aligned with the prevention focus of the conference. Submissions focusing solely on treatment or rehabilitation, or on the health effects of physical activity, fall outside the scope of the conference and will not be accepted.

Programme Formats

The conference programme will include keynote lectures, symposia, head-to-head debates, workshops and abstract presentations, either oral or poster-based.

• Keynote lectures will be high-profile plenary presentations delivered by leading authorities to the full conference audience. They should address topics of broad relevance and significant impact across the field of athlete health protection, presenting cutting-edge science in an engaging, accessible and forward-looking way. Proposals may be submitted for a single keynote speaker or in a dual keynote format, pairing an established authority with an early-career researcher or a speaker from a diverse background.
• Symposia will be 75-minute themed sessions bringing together a small panel of speakers to explore a topic in depth from complementary perspectives. Each symposium may include a maximum of four speakers and must include a five-minute introduction by the chair, as well as at least 15 to 20 minutes of audience interaction and discussion. Proposals should specify the chair, individual lecture titles, speakers and the duration of each component.
• Head-to-head debates will be 60-minute sessions featuring two speakers and one chair. These sessions should present competing, evidence-based perspectives on a controversial or unresolved question related to athlete health. The emphasis is on rigorous scientific discussion rather than adversarial debate, with strong audience engagement encouraged through interactive formats such as pre- and post-session votes and questions facilitated through the conference app.

Speaker Benefits and Review Process

Invited speakers for keynote lectures, symposia and head-to-head debates will receive complimentary registration, accommodation during the conference from 30 November to 3 December 2027, and participation in the social programme, including the welcome drinks reception, Sports Celebration Night and faculty dinner.

Travel costs will not be reimbursed.

Proposal submission is free of charge. Following the review process, all authors will be informed of the outcome of their invited speaker proposal by 1 December 2026.

Workshops and Abstract Presentations

The conference will also include a wide range of hands-on workshops and abstract presentations. The call for workshop and abstract proposals will open later, from 1 December 2026.

The deadline for workshop proposals is 1 March 2027, while the deadline for abstracts is 1 August 2027.

Further information about the 8th IOC World Conference – Protecting the Health of the Athlete and the call for proposals is available via the official conference channels here: 8th IOC World Conference – Protecting the Health of the Athlete

The post 8th IOC World Conference – Protecting the Health of the Athlete Call for Proposals appeared first on ICSSPE.

The closing event marked an important milestone in the project, bringing together athletes, sport professionals, policymakers, national focal points, and representatives of European institutions to reflect on the project’s findings, outcomes and future directions.

The “Sport For All” project aims to support a more inclusive sport culture by addressing barriers to the participation of persons with disabilities in sport and by promoting safer, more accessible and non-discriminatory sport environments. The project focused on eight participating countries: Armenia, Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Serbia, Türkiye and Ukraine.

Translating project findings into capacity building

As part of the project, ICSSPE was responsible for supporting the capacity-building component through the design and delivery of two tailored training workshops for sport professionals and stakeholders from the participating countries. These workshops built on the findings of the project’s needs assessment and focused on strengthening inclusive sport systems in practice.

Patrick Stolpmann represented ICSSPE during the closing event. On the first day, he moderated the session on “Athlete leadership and advocacy”, which featured contributions from Martina Caironi, Paralympic medallist in the 100m sprint and long jump and member of the Athletes’ Council of the International Paralympic Committee and World Para Athletics, and Päivi Tolppanen, Para judo coach and Vice-President of the Finnish Paralympic Committee. The discussion highlighted the role of athletes and sport leaders in advancing inclusion, visibility and meaningful participation for persons with disabilities in sport.

From workshop outcomes to future action

On the second day, Patrick presented the outcomes of the Sport For All training workshops during the session “Building the capacity of grassroots”. The session also included national good practice contributions from Gearóidín McTavish, Director of Disability at Sport Ireland and Sport For All focal point, and Daniel Videira, Executive Committee Member of the National Paralympic Committee of Portugal and Sport For All focal point.

This session positioned capacity building as a key bridge between the project’s analytical work and future implementation. While the needs assessment identified common structural challenges across the participating countries, the training workshops supported stakeholders in exploring how these findings can inform practical change within their own sport environments.

The closing event also included the presentation of the Sport For All Toolkit, discussions on career pathways for persons with disabilities in sport, and sport demonstrations including wheelchair fencing and blind football. These elements reflected the project’s broader message: inclusive sport systems require not only policy frameworks, but also visible role models, accessible pathways, trained professionals, practical tools and sustained institutional commitment.

ICSSPE is proud to have contributed to this initiative and to have supported the project’s efforts to strengthen inclusion and combat discrimination against persons with disabilities in sport. The outcomes of the project provide a valuable foundation for continued cooperation, peer learning and practical action across Europe and beyond.

Read more about the project and access all resources here: Home – Sport for all

The post ICSSPE contributes to closing event of the EU–Council of Europe “Sport For All” project appeared first on ICSSPE.