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In 1995, the ECJ’s ruling on the Bosman case changed the face of professional sports in the Union. Since then, the European institutions and other non governmental actors have been increasingly involved in the definition of a European policy on sports (professional and amateur) – and as some authors have even argued, in the creation of a soft European sports law, on the margins of the Treaties.
Yet, there is a certain lack of coordinated interdisciplinary research on this area, at either national or EU level. So far, within the field of European Studies, the matter of sports has largely suffered from the fragmentation of research between Member States and between disciplines, as well as from the focus on one sport (football), to the detriment of others.
Sport&EU (the association for the study of sport and the European Union), exists to bring together all scholars with an interest on the Union’s involvement in sports and its consequences for policy, law and society (largely defined).
The association aims to promote comparative and interdisciplinary studies focusing on various sports. It is also committed to theoretical debate and research within the area of sport and the EU.
Sport&EU’s main goal is to provide researchers with a network to exchange ideas and information in order to develop a research agenda that could enhance the profile of the discipline of sport within the area of European Studies (both largely defined).
Academics, doctoral and postgraduate students from every branch of learning (including but not limited to anthropology, criminology, economics, ethnology, geography, history, law, linguistics, political science, sociology etc.), working on any area within the European Union are invited to join.
Sport&EU is specially interested in providing a friendly and motivating forum for post-graduate research students to present their work in an academic environment. PhD students are encouraged to join the association and to participate in its activities.
The association will initially be focusing into three main areas, each one forming a research group: Sports policies and governance in the European Union, Sports law and Regulation in the EU and Sport in Society. Please note that the term EU does not only refer to the supranational level, but it also includes the meso and micro levels.
The association’s email list provides researchers with a network for the exchange of ideas and information or the organisation of panels in international conferences. For instance, Sport&EU will have two panels at the upcoming European Union Studies Association (EUSA) 10th Biennial Conference in Montréal (Canada).
Sport&EU also publishes a quarterly newsletter edited by Dr Andrew Smith and Dr Simona Kustec-Lipicer available at: www.sportandeu.com/newsletter. Contributions can be sent to newsletter[à]sportandeu.com.
In July 2006, Sport&EU, together with Loughborough University, organised a workshop on the situation and perspectives ten years after the Bosman ruling. Plans are underway for a workshop at the University of Chester. (More information will be published at www.sportandeu.com/workshop when available)
In 2007, Sport&EU is delighted to start a collaboration with ASSER International Sports Law Centre on the International Sports Law Journal.
As a medium-term goal, Sport&EU will be involved in the edition of a special issue on Sport and the EU of the Journal of Contemporary European Research (UACES Online journal).
David RANC, Borja GARCĺA, An VERMEERSCH