The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced the selection of seven research projects as part of the eleventh edition of the Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme, managed by the Olympic Studies Centre. These initiatives stand out for their academic quality and relevance to the priority areas defined by the IOC for the study of Olympism and the Olympic movement.

The main objective of this program is to encourage advanced research in the humanities and social sciences, promoting collaboration between the academic community and the IOC. University professors, teachers, and researchers with a doctorate and academic affiliation during the grant period are eligible for these grants, which are awarded every two years.

Health, equality, and participation in Olympic sport

Among the selected projects is a study on supporting the health of elite female athletes and the role of policies in practice, led by Alison Bowes and her team at Nottingham Trent University. Another group, led by Hazel Maxwell from Western Sydney University, will investigate policies and programs to improve gender equity in leadership, decision-making, coaching, and refereeing in Olympic sport in Oceania.

The University of Sydney, led by Indigo Willing, will analyze priorities and gaps in promoting gender equality and social inclusion through community skateboarding projects and the presence of skateboarding in the Olympic Games. For its part, the University of Minnesota, with Mitchell McSweeney and Meredith Whitley, will explore social innovation and capacity building in sport for development and peace through the KLABU Clubhouse Life Cycle strategy.

Training, protection, and rights of athletes

The FIDES CEP program, led by Monica K. Torstveit and Bärd Erlend Solstad from the University of Agder, will focus on optimizing and evaluating a coach training program to improve the preparation of female athletes. From the University of Hull, John Toner and his team will investigate the role of internal reporting as a tool to strengthen safety in Olympic sport.

The last of the selected projects, coordinated by Serhat Yilmaz at Loughborough University, will address the participation and voice of young elite athletes in the Olympic movement, with a special focus on children’s rights.

The Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme is held every two years, with the next edition scheduled for October 2026 and applications open until February 2027. The Olympic Studies Centre provides detailed information about its resources, services, and scholarship programs on its website. For specific inquiries, interested parties can contact studies.centre@olympic.org.