ERASMUS+ Understanding, Evaluating, and Improving Good Governance
Understanding, Evaluating, and Improving Good Governance in the Employment Relations of Athletes in Olympic Sports in Europe
Head of Project
Prof. Dr. Jürgen Mittag
Project Coordinator
Maximilian Seltmann M.A.
IESF Project staff
Lorenz Fiege M.A.
Period of Research
January 2020 – December 2022
Project partners (academic)
- University of Rijeka (Pravi Fakultet Sveucilista u Rijeci), Croatia
- Universidade Europeia, Portugal
- Edge Hill University, Great Britain
- Institute for Sport Governance, Poland
Partner (stakeholder representation)
Project Funding
European Commission, ERASMUS+ Projekt 622796-EPP-1-2020-1-DE-SPO-SCP
Project description
This collaborative partnership aims at improving good governance in the employment relations of athletes in Olympic sports by providing, evaluating and sharing evidence based information, practices and recommendations in an important, yet largely neglected, subdomain of sport and governance.The project team, consisting of five academic partners and two practice-oriented partners, both umbrella organisations representing essential parts of the sports sector in this certain field, will provide evidence based policy recommendations for sport governing bodies from the local to the global level as well as for national public authorities and EU institutions.
The project is structured around three specific goals, all of which are attained through different phases and methodologies. These goals are:
- Understanding - establishing an evidence base of the legal and socio-political landscape defining the employment relations of athletes in Olympic sports in 29 European countries and the European Union;
- Evaluating - assessing the current practice across the continent;
- Improving - formulating and implementing concrete policy recommendations for key stakeholders.
Building on a rigorous and participatory methodology, the expertise and unique network of the project team, this collaborative partnership will inform substantial and sustainable policy change on all levels of governance. The results empower athletes for a secure and successful career in sport and beyond.
Multiplier Sport Events
MSE1: October 2021, Cologne
Understanding the Employment Relations of Athletes in Olympic Sports in Europe: Results of an EU-wide study
At this first event, the results of our European study will be presented. This study (Fact Report) provides an initial and ground-breaking understanding of the employment relations of athletes in 29 European countries and addresses the role of the European Union in regulating and shaping the employment relations of athletes in Olympic sports. The event will host stakeholders from sport organisations of all levels and many different countries, with a focus on central, eastern and northern Europe, policy makers from different institutions and internationally renowned academics.
MSE2: December 2021, Lisbon
Understanding the Employment Relations of Athletes in Olympic Sports in Europe: Results of an EU-wide study
At this event, the results of our European study will be presented. This study provides an initial and ground-breaking understanding of the employment relations of athletes in 29 European countries and addresses the role of the European Union in regulating and shaping the employment relations of athletes in Olympic sports. The event will host stakeholders from sport organisations of all levels and many different countries, with a focus on southern and central Europe, policy makers from different institutions and internationally renowned academics.
MSE3: February 2022, Liverpool
Defining Good Governance in the Employment Relations of Athletes in Olympic Sports: Open Forum
At this event, which takes the form of an open forum for discussion, the project team will present a literature review on decent work in sport and good governance. The event aims at fostering debate about what constitutes good governance in the employment relations of athletes by bringing together key stakeholders from the various levels of sport governance and public administration.
MSE4: April 2022, Rijeka
Defining Good Governance in the Employment Relations of Athletes in Olympic Sports: Open Forum
At this event, which takes the form of an open forum for discussion, the project team will present a literature review on decent work in sport and good governance. The event aims at fostering debate about what constitutes good governance in the employment relations of athletes by bringing together key stakeholders from the various levels of sport governance and public administration.
MSE5: June 20222, Warsaw
Evaluating the Good Governance in the Employment Relations of Athletes in Olympic Sports in Europe: A Critical Perspective
At this event, the project team will present its Evaluation Report which addresses the most prominent issues relating to the employment relations of athletes in Olympic sports in Europe from a comparative perspective. The event will host key stakeholders from the various countries included in the study as well as policy makers on all levels on administration.
MSE6 Final Event: October 2022, Brussels
The Future of Olympic Sports from an Employment Relations Perspective: Improving Good Governance in the Employment Relations of Athletes in Olympic Sports in Europe
At this event, the project team will present its Final Report which proposes evidence-based recommendations for policy change to improve good governance in the employment relations of athletes in Olympic sports in Europe.