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Please make an appointment by email: s.pawlowski(at)dshs-koeln.de Appointments can be held in person (institute building II, room 313) or via WebEx on one of the following days: 28.07. 14:00-16:00 pm, as of 16:00 pm online 05.08. 08:30-10:00 am, as of 10:00 am online 02.09. 09:00-10:30 am 06.10. 09:00-10:30 am

Whether on grass, gravel, or artificial turf, with sturdy metal goals or simply jumpers and bags laid down as goalposts—public neighbourhood football pitches (known in German as Bolzplätze ) are as diverse as the people who use them. Often located near playgrounds, they offer older children and teenagers in particular the opportunity to organise themselves and their games in an open setting, find their place within the group, and constantly negotiate new rules. For generations, playing and trying things out on these football pitches has been an integral part of German youth and leisure culture. To protect and preserve the cultural heritage of the German Bolzplatz , the German Football Museum in Dortmund, together with the Institute of European Sport Development and Leisure Studies at the German Sport University Cologne, submitted an application for its inclusion in the National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Prof. Jürgen Mittag , Director of the Institute of European Sport Development and Leisure Studies, has been researching this topic for many years. The application was successful: In 2026, the culture of the Bolzplatz ("Bolzplatzkultur") was inscribed on the National Register of Intangible Cultural Heritage (website available in German only). The official presentation ceremony will take place in Schwerin on 16 July. The Bolzplatz: A Place to Meet The German Commission for UNESCO states on its website (available in German only, quote translated literally): “Bolzplätze are open to everyone and enable participation regardless of origin, language, gender, or social background.” It continues: “As an open and accessible meeting place, the Bolzplatz brings together people with a wide range of backgrounds and fosters social skills such as fairness, teamwork, and conflict resolution. Prof. Mittag hopes that the “intangible cultural heritage” status will raise awareness of the importance of Bolzplatzkultur and improve support for it. From the Street to the Bolzplatz Until the mid-1960s, football was played mainly on the street. But increasing traffic forced children and teenagers off the streets. Football pitches, which were built mainly in densely populated residential areas, became the new gathering places. Since then, and particularly in recent decades, the way young people spend their free time has changed significantly, shifting indoors—due to all-day schools and digitalisation. That is why Jürgen Mittag warns : “Bolzplatz culture is now a form of cultural heritage under threat that must be preserved and safeguarded.” (translated quote; original available in German only) Further information on the topic of Bolzplatzkultur as cultural heritage can be found on the research portal of the German Sport University Cologne (available in German only).

Is taking part all that matters? – Does sports bring Europe together? Do recreational and competitive sports promote European integration and mutual understanding? In the wake of the Winter Olympics in Italy, ahead of the FIFA World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, and the World Equestrian Games in Aachen, this topic is taking center stage. Major sporting events have been—and continue to be—used time and again as a political stage to overcome conflicts between nations or to polish up a country’s image. Does sports foster mutual understanding, or do its increasing commercialization and, in some cases, problematic fan behavior hinder this process? Guests: Michael Mronz, IOC member Almuth Schult, Olympic soccer champion Frank Busemann, 1996 silver medalist in the decathlon Rica Reinisch, three-time Olympic swimming champion Prof. Jürgen Mittag, German Sport University Moderator: Carina Dilg, ARD Sportschau reporter at the 2026 Winter Olympics Admission: free | Registration via https://karlspreis.events Organizer: International Charlemagne Prize, City of Aachen This event is part of the official program accompanying the 2026 Charlemagne Prize award ceremony honoring former Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. Source (text and image): https://www.karlspreis.de/de/veranstaltungen/rahmenprogramm

During the semester break, Prof. Petry will be available on 28 July, 18 August, 1 September, 15 September and 29 September, from 3.30 pm to 5.00 pm on each occasion, either in person or via WebEx. Please register in advance by email . Appointments can be held in person (Institute Building II, Room 319) or via WebEx. Schedule : 3.30 pm – 5.00 pm 28 July 18 August 1st September 15 September 29 September

Read more about this year's GSU Young Talent Award…

Successful Symposium on Female Coaches at the Rhein Energie Stadium in Cologne On Thursday, July 2, 2026, there was an intensive exchange between academia, sports, and politics regarding the situation of female coaches in German elite sports. As part of the Women Coaches Symposium at the Rhein-Energie-Stadion in Cologne, stakeholders gathered to discuss how the situation for women coaches can be improved, based on the research findings of the QualiFT project. …" (Excerpt from the BiSP press release) Read the full article on https://www.bisp.de/

As part of PE1.14 “International Sports Policy and Development Cooperation,” a “sports policy fair” covering various exciting topics will take place this coming Saturday, July 4, 2026. The topics will be prepared, presented, and discussed by students at interactive booths. Anyone interested is cordially invited to attend between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. in seminar rooms 96 and 97. Registration is not required. We look forward to an exciting day offering many insights into national and international sports policy. Learn more…

How has media coverage changed? How has the politicization of the World Cup and the national soccer team evolved? The “quadriennial” event organized by Prof. Dr. Norbert Kersting of the Institute of Political Science at the University of Münster was held in 2026 in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Jürgen Mittag of the German Sport University Cologne and the German Soccer Museum in Dortmund. The conference was aimed at anyone interested in the relationship between sports and politics. Learn more about the event…

Conference at the German Football Museum highlights the sport’s global challenges How political is football? This question was the focus of the conference ‘The 2026 FIFA World Cup and Politics’, which took place on 10 June 2026 at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The conference was organised by the German Sport University Cologne and the University of Münster. In the run-up to the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico, academics discussed the political, social and media dimensions of the world’s largest sporting event. The focus was on both the role of FIFA and the interests of the three host nations. At the same time, it became clear just how much media coverage of football has changed in the age of social media. The 2026 World Cup: caught between conflicting interests In his lecture, Prof. Dr Jürgen Mittag from the Institute of European Sport Development and Leisure Studies analysed the bidding process and awarding of the World Cup, as well as the differing objectives of the stakeholders involved. Under the title ‘A shared playing field, separate interests?’ , he highlighted that whilst the three host nations present a united front, each pursues its own political and social interests. At the same time, Mittag provided an overview of FIFA’s development in recent years. Against the backdrop of the 2015 corruption scandal (“FIFAGate”), he discussed reform efforts within the world governing body, but also highlighted ongoing challenges in the area of governance. The debate surrounding human rights, sportswashing and sports diplomacy demonstrates that the relationship between sport and politics must continue to be rebalanced. Social Media and the Future of Sports Journalism Jun.-Prof. Dr Daniel Nölleke from the Institute for Communication and Media Research addressed the changing landscape of sports reporting. In his lecture ‘Social Media and Football: On the Transformation of Media Logics and Journalism’ , he traced how the role of sports journalism has changed over recent decades. Using historical examples, he highlighted the traditional close relationship between sports journalism and those involved in sport. At the same time, he asked what role journalistic reporting might play in future, in an age of direct communication via social media. In view of clubs’ own channels and the growing importance of digital platforms, critical analysis and independent research are of particular significance. The central question of the lecture was therefore: “Why do we still need sports journalism?” Sport as a mirror of social developments The conference made it clear that the 2026 FIFA World Cup will not merely be a major sporting event. Rather, it serves as a lens through which to examine issues of international cooperation, political communication and media responsibility. The papers from the fields of sports policy research and communication studies impressively demonstrated how closely sport, society and politics are intertwined. At the same time, they underlined the importance of academic perspectives for understanding current developments in international sport. The presentations: Prof. Dr. Norbert Kersting, Institut für Politikwissenschaft, Universität Münster : Nationales Branding und nationale Identität von Mega-Sport-Event. Die Fußball WM 2026 Prof. Dr. Jürgen Mittag, Institut für Europäische Sportentwicklung und Freizeitforschung, Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln : Gemeinsames Spielfeld, getrennte Interessen? Bewerbung, Zielsetzungen und Strategien des Ausrichtertriumvirats der WM 2026 Jun.-Prof. Dr. Daniel Nölleke, Institut für Kommunikations und Medienforschung, Deutsche Sporthochschule Köln : Der Wandel von sich Medienlogiken und Journalismus im digitalen Zeitalter und die Fußball Weltmeisterschaft 2026 Dietrich Schulze-Marmeling, Journalist und Autor, Münster : Fußball-WM, Demokratie, Menschenrechte und Boykott. Am Beispiel der WM 2022 in Qatar“ Prof. Dr. Henk Erik Meier, Professur für Sozialwissenschaften des Sports, Universität Münster : Die deutsche Nationalmannschaft und politische Positionierungen. Erwartungen der Bevölkerung Closing discussion Also: Poster session “Politische, ökologische und ökonomische Auswirkungen, Tourismus, Sicherheit, Nationale Identität und Nation Branding, Akteure” Read more on this topic here (available in German only): ⇢ Wozu noch Sportjournalismus? Ein Gespräch mit Jun.-Prof. Dr. Daniel Nölleke über Social Media, Fußball und den Wandel der Medien ⇢ Zwischen globalem Fest und politischer Bühne: Die Fußball-WM 2026 im Wandel - Interview mit Prof. Dr. Jürgen Mittag