The Background

The world is currently more complex and sensitive than it has ever been before. A series of profound changes (which includes technological change and changes in the established global order) have induced a shift from the Global North to the Global South. This has intensified global power struggles resulting in countries engaging even in military action. Sport has not been immune to the consequences of our fast-changing world indeed it is being profoundly shaped by them. Moreover, sport is more actively being deployed as a policy instrument intended to deliver economic and political benefits. Some examples of this include NBA basketball’s expansion into Europe, Africa, and Asia, Saudi Arabia’s esports strategy, China’s stadium diplomacy policy, and Switzerland’s quest to maintain its competitive advantage as a centre for global sports governance. Such is the turbulence that sport now faces, that existing ways of thinking about the industry need to rapidly change. It is therefore incumbent upon sport researchers to provide new insights and perspectives on the sport industry during the 21st century’s second quarter.

Against this backdrop, Beijing Sport University, emlyon business school and German Sport University Cologne will host the 7th Eurasian Sports Industry Conference in Cologne, Germany. This call invites scholars, researchers, practitioners, and enthusiasts to contribute to the discourse on "Sport Industry in a Turbulent World". The conference will be held at German Sport University Cologne on 4th November, 2026.

Host

• Beijing Sport University, China
• emlyon business school, France
• German Sport University Cologne, Germany

Organizer

• School of Management, Beijing Sport University, China
• Hub for Eurasian Sport Industry, emlyon business school, France
• Institute of European Sport Development and Leisure Studies, German Sport University Cologne, Germany

Co-organizer

Euro-China Sport Development Association e.V.

The Domains

Abstract submissions will be accepted in any of these five broad areas:

Globalisation

As the established world order changes, so sport is being impacted. Who funds sport, where events are staged, and the basis upon which commercial relationships in sport become established, are all shifting. This demands new ways of thinking about the sport industry and its development up to 2050.

Technology

Digitalisation has significantly affected sport at all levels and will continue to do so, especially given emerging developments in augmented reality, virtual reality and artificial intelligence. Understanding how sport is created, delivered and consumed are key research priorities.

Environment

Sport is both a contributor to climate change and a victim of it, resulting in major challenges to how sport will and should be delivered in the future. Addressing these matters is of pressing importance hence the need for analyses of sport’s engagement with climate change issues.

Geopolitical economy

With conflict, power and change as major current characteristics of sport’s operating environment, complexity and sensitivity is challenging the sport industry stakeholders to think and behave in new and different ways. Establishing links between geography, politics and economics is crucial in building understanding of sport’s new 21st century reality.

Governance

Faced with each of the challenges noted above, sports governance finds itself at an important juncture as power seeking behaviours, conflict, and the erosion of global rules become pervasive. Evaluating the current fitness-for-purpose of sports governance and how governance might change in the future is one of the industry’s biggest challenges.

Submission Guidelines

• Abstracts should be submitted by Deadline for submissions: Friday, 31st July 2026 (23:59 CET) to sportconference@126.com
• When submitting the paper, please use the following format for the email subject: 7th AESIC call for papers+Name+Topic.
• Abstracts are restricted to 3200 characters (including spaces, title, authors and institutions).
• Abstracts should be structured into the following headings: Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions.
• All abstracts must be written in English, and will be assessed by the Scientific Committee.
• Please include a brief bio and contact information with your submission.

Important Dates

• Abstracts Submission Deadline: Friday, 31st July 2026
• Notification of Acceptance: Friday, 14th August 2026
• Conference Date: Wednesday, 4th November 2026

Conference Venue

German Sport University Cologne, Am Sportpark Müngersdorf 6, 50933, Cologne, Germany.

Registration Fee

Please note that all presenters and participants must register to attend the conference.

Registration fee: EUR€250 ( CNY￥2,000)

Registration Information

The registration fee includes reception, and conference meals. Conference registration does not include accommodation or travel costs.

*Please email d.wu@dshs-koeln.de to request the conference registration form and payment account information.

Presentations & Review process

Abstracts can be submitted either for poster presentations or oral presentations. All abstracts will undergo a double-blind review process facilitated by members of the scientific committee. Notification of acceptance will be provided promptly, enabling early flight booking and accommodation arrangements.

For inquiries , please contact d.wu@dshs-koeln.de