The Organizing Committee SKEMA Publika think tank – European Fair Play Movement (EFPM) and the Scientific Committee of EFPM invite academics, researchers, and PhD candidates from all disciplines to submit abstracts for the International Congress “Sport, the Spirit of Humanity – Protecting the Sport Person”, to be held in Paris on December 4, 2026, in the premises of SKEMA Business School.
Theme and Rationale
Sport embodies some of humanity’s most cherished values: respect, dignity, solidarity, courage, and the pursuit of excellence. Yet today, amid rapid societal change, technological acceleration, geopolitical tensions, and shifting ethical landscapes, the sport person (athlete, coach, official, volunteer, or any individual engaged in sport) faces unprecedented challenges.
This congress seeks to explore how sport can remain a deeply humanistic endeavor, and how individuals within sport can be protected, empowered, and supported in a complex global environment. We welcome contributions that interrogate the tensions between performance and well‑being, fairness and innovation, commercialization and ethics, as well as inclusion and integrity.
Topics of Interest
We invite submissions from disciplines including (but not limited to) : sport science, sport management, sociology, law, ethics, philosophy, psychology, medicine, education, political science, economics, history, and technology studies.
Proposed topics may include:
- Human dignity and rights in sport
- Integrity, safeguarding, and athlete protection frameworks
- Athlete well‑being, health, and mental‑health support systems
- Youth sport and protection of minors
- Ethics of performance, technology, and data in sport
- Gender equality, equity, and inclusiveness
- Sport governance and athlete voice
- Globalisation, geopolitics, and the sport person
- Sport for peace, development, and social cohesion
- Education, dual careers, and lifelong learning in sport
- Artificial intelligence, innovation, and human identity in sport
- Cultural perspectives on humanism in sport
Interdisciplinary approaches, case studies, comparative analyses, conceptual papers, and early-stage doctoral research are all welcome.
Abstract Submission Guidelines
- Length: 300–350 words
- Language: English
- Format: Title, Authors, Affiliation(s), Keywords (3–5), Introduction, Aim, Methods, Results, and Conclusion, References (references are out of the 300-350 words, max 3 references: author, year, name of journal or publication)
- Abstract Template: the use of the attached template is compulsory to submit your abstract.
- Submission link: Abstracts should be submitted to Prof. Dr. Thierry Zintz : Thierry.zintz@uclouvain.be
- Deadline: 30 June 2026 with approval by 15 September 2026
- Notification of acceptance: 15 September 2026
- Presentation formats: oral presentations
Publication Opportunities
Selected papers will be invited for inclusion in an edited volume (details forthcoming), published by SKEMA – Publika.
Who Should Submit?
The congress welcomes:
- University academics and researchers,
- PhD and doctoral candidates,
- EFPM Members,
- Practitioners and professionals engaged in sport governance, athlete support, coaching, ethics, or health,
- Interdisciplinary scholars interested in sport as a humanistic and societal endeavor.
Venue
The event will take place in Paris, a global centre for sport, culture, and research, offering an inspiring environment just two years after the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
SKEMA Business School – Campus Grand Paris
5 Quai Marcel Dassault – CS 90067, 92156 CEDEX Suresnes – France
Financial participation conditions for selected abstracts
- There is no inscription fee for selected presenters.
- One presenter will be invited for each selected abstract. She/he will benefit for free of two hotel nights (night 3 to 4 December and night 4 to 5 December) and of two evening dinners (evening of 3 and evening of 4 December).
- Travel costs of presenters are not supported by the organizers of the congress.
Contact
For questions or further information, please contact:
Prof. Dr. Thierry ZINTZ