🚨 The ClearingSport webinar is tomorrow – and already 400+ people have registered!

The webinar will feature a detailed presentation of the proposal, followed by panel discussions with expert stakeholders 📢

🔗 Read more and register now👇

www.playthegame.org/news/join-th...

Another way to drastically distort the economics of domestic leagues. Money begets money.

Why isn’t there ever a candidate for this role that aligns with our expectations? What appears like a progressive appointment on one level then falls down on another. Is the IOC simply too entangled in politics to expect more?

Grants Play the Game offers a limited number of conference grants

Play the Game offers a limited number of conference grants for media professionals from low-income countries and the Global South.

www.playthegame.org/conferences/...

Call for papers and other contributions Play the Game invites academics, journalists, athlete representatives, sports officials, supporter groups, and other stakeholders in sport to contribute their research, knowledge, and experiences at P...

📢 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐩𝐚𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 & 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐛𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 – 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞 2025!

Join global experts to challenge the status quo, tackle key issues in sport, and shape the debate at #ptg2025👉 www.playthegame.org/conferences/...

Football seems to be going around this guy. Focus and purpose seems to be showcasing proximity to celebrities and politicians. Penny for the thoughts of the FIFA staff/members watching this stuff.

"Migrant workers, including on PIF-funded projects, face widespread abuses under the kafala (sponsorship) system."

HRW's 2025 World Report on Saudi Arabia.

📢 Mark your calendars - Play the Game is heading to Tampere from 5-8 Oct 2025🇫🇮

Join us to discuss:

🔸Anti-doping
🔸Corruption
🔸Illegal gambling
🔸Matchfixing
🔸Good governance
🔸Human rights
🔸Sustainability
🔸Journalism

👉 www.playthegame.org/news/finnish...

#ptg2025

Creative Research Methods for Critical Event Studies This timely and innovative book offers an introduction to a range of creative methods, providing both empirical and conceptual guidance.  Based upon existing empirical work and richly illustrated thro...

Check out our new book: Creative Methods in Critical Event Studies. Great working with @drluplatt.bsky.social and Dr Briony Sharp as always, and such interesting and innovative research highlighted by chapter authors. www.routledge.com/Creative-Res...

Are you a scholar interested in writing a book situated in events/festivals/cultural experiences? Send an expression of interest or book proposal to Routledge Critical Event Studies Research Series www.routledge.com/Routledge-Cr...

Saudi Arabia’s sports strategy is driven by a powerful inner circle with extraordinary decision-making power, straddling state and sports leadership❗

We've mapped this network, exposing governance challenges, conflicts of interest, and human rights abuses👇
www.playthegame.org/news/saudi-a...

Is this recorded Steve as I’d like to catch up with the discussion if possible?

This morning the Council of Europe’s parliamentary body has a hearing on how human rights criteria are used in selecting the hosts of mega sporting events…

I’ll be sharing some timely thoughts on FIFA’s approach.

At Host City conference in Glasgow and though there’s a lot of ‘business speak’ it’s also very noticeable how much more ‘cut through’ there is for a values-based approach to decision-making around event bidding and delivery. Rights, social capital, policy-informed/led, diversity, equity, inclusion

So to rely on a report that avoids delving into freedom of association and assembly, LGBTQI+ discrimination, the prohibition of trade unions, the right to freedom of religion and forced evictions…. And *still* be judged as a medium risk!

FIFA bid reviewers gave Saudis “highest ever evaluation score ever (TM)” even when:
*entire host cities remain unbuilt
*the stadiums remain (one literally) pie in the sky
*the obvious risk to life and safety of those constructing FIFA World Cup infrastructure
*No idea when it will be played

I read most of report overnight. FIFA will say this is transparency in action, releasing a bid report, but this report is as transparent as a pint of Guinness, clouding so many of the key issues in corporate speak. Timing of releasing it in the middle of the night also appears calculated

FIFA report: Saudi 2034 World Cup bid has "medium" human rights risk

On human rights, much seems to be gleaned from the Clifford Chance Saudi arm’s “independent context assessment”, which excluded key treaties and avoided sensitive issues. These exclusions were with FIFA’s agreement, according to the report.

www.nytimes.com/athletic/595...

🔔 Danish MEPs criticized FIFA's closed-door World Cup decision-making as undemocratic and suggested a boycott if transparency and accountability aren't prioritized, raising concerns over FIFA's governance.
t.co/cF2c1ZPkV9

2036 Olympics alert to Doha, Budapest, Istanbul et al: India expects to reach its goal as early as spring 2025 There are growing signs that the Indian government and the Modigarchs are counting on being chosen to host the 2036 Summer Olympics as early as the first half of 2025. One piece of the mosaic after th...

2036 Olympics alert to Doha, Budapest, Istanbul et al: India expects to reach its goal in spring 2025.
The Indian government and the Modigarchs are counting on being chosen to host the 2036 Olympics in the first half of 2025. Next piece of the mosaic ⬇️
www.sportandpolitics.de/2036-olympic...

Saudi Arabia Is a ‘Wrecking Ball’ in Global Climate Talks Despite endorsing a transition away from fossil fuels last year, Saudi officials have since worked to undermine it in at least five U.N. forums, diplomats said.

There will be a lot of talk about - despite appearances - the Saudi Arabian World Cup being green. (Remember the stories about how the other carbon state Qatar was hosting the greenest ever World Cup?) But it's hard not to see it being an environmental nightmare.

www.nytimes.com/2024/11/18/c...

Human Rights Impacts of the Olympic Games and the Necessity of Reform We're diving into the human rights issues surrounding the Olympics and why reform is crucial - join us for an eye-opening discussion!

On Wednesday we’re hosting a lunchtime (in the UK) seminar on Human Rights impacts of Olympics & need for reform www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/human-righ.... Great having Andrea Florence and Natsuko Sasaki as speakers

Grateful to Global Sustainable Sport for featuring our project
@sportandrights.bsky.social on embedding #HumanRights & #Justice in #ClimateAction in, around, and through #Sports

📌 Read: globalsustainablesport.com/how-sport-ca...

@sportpositive.bsky.social @sportecogroup.bsky.social
#COP29

New to Bluesky I'm giving a push for an article titled "Sport events and festivalisation: animating the city" indd.adobe.com/view/aafe6c1... that I recently wrote for smartcities & sport’s latest publication on "Festivalising Sport Events" Perhaps an inspiration for Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth here

Hidden Door is taking over a HUGE industrial site in #Edinburgh – The Paper Factory – for a totally unique two nights of live music, visual art and performances on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 November.

Tickets on sale now: hiddendoorarts.org/tickets/

#HiddenDoorFestival #arts #music

Making Masculinities - Take One Action! A compelling evening of short films exploring the complexities of masculinity today - from harm to love.

There’s a small handful of tickets again for our sold out @takeoneaction.bsky.social Making Masculinities event at the CCA in Glasgow because of cancellations, snap them up quick! 🐊

www.takeoneaction.org.uk/event/making...

CFP: Leisure Studies special issue on Leisure & Technologies. think.taylorandfrancis.com/special_issu...

📢Beneath the Glare of Mega Projects
Migrant workers on Saudi Arabia's 2034 World Cup projects face 10-hour shifts in extreme heat for £2 an hour, with many unpaid for months. They're trapped in squalid environments, burdened by debt, as FIFA turns a blind eye to human rights abuses.