| Partners and Events | No.43 January 2005 |
Play the game Jens Sejer Andersen, Denmark |
A new ICSSPE partner in the sports debate The world conference on sports politics and communication, Play the game, has been strengthened by transforming it into an independent NGO, with the entire Danish sports community and The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) forming part of the governing body. Through conferences and the website www.play-the-game.org, Play the game works to promote democracy, transparency and freedom of expression in international sport. ICSSPE and Play the game recently entered a partnership by which ICSSPE will have a seat on the independent programme committee of the next conference. "We still have many steps to take to secure the position of Play the game as a home for the homeless questions in sport. One important step is the partnership with ICSSPE and the opportunities it opens to cooperate with critical sports researchers all over the world," says Jens Sejer Andersen, journalist and newly appointed Director of Play the game. Andersen was also the driving force of earlier conferences in 1997, 2000 and 2002 while he was still an editor at the Danish Gymnastics and Sports Associations. One of the most important challenges ahead is to build up a more regular debate and news production, and Andersen invites all ICSSPE members to contribute. "It is vital for sport's development that sports researchers don't shy away from addressing the public with facts and opinions that can qualify public debate and the media," Jens Sejer Andersen says. "There is a great need for academic contributions to be communicated in a way that non-academics can understand. Our homepage and knowledge bank has, in spite of not being updated regularly for some time, still between 3,000 and 5,000 unique visits every month. I regard that number as highly encouraging for all those who believe that sport must be subject to debate." Play the game invites all ICSSPE members to the next Play the game conference, which will be held in Copenhagen from 6th to 10th November 2005. If you want to be sure to receive the call for papers, please subscribe to a free electronic newsletter at www.play-the-game.org. The secretariat of the new institution will soon be established in Aarhus at the Danish School of Journalism, the leading media training and development centre in Denmark. Until Play the game moves in, the organisation can be contacted using the details below. Jens Sejer Andersen Tel. +45 75 83 80 82 Cell phone +45 20 71 07 01 Email: jens@play-the-game.org http://www.icsspe.org/portal/bulletin-january2005.htm Play the game Jens Sejer Andersen, Denmark