Sport and Citizenship was founded in 2007, shortly after the adoption of the European Commission's White Paper on sport. It is the first and only European
think tank
A think tank, or policy institute, is a research institute that performs research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, technology, and culture. Most think tanks are non-governmenta ...
which works on the analysis of sporting politics and the study of sport's societal impact. Independent and apolitical, Sport and Citizenship is a forum for new thinking and
lobbying
In politics, lobbying, persuasion or interest representation is the act of lawfully attempting to influence the actions, policies, or decisions of government officials, most often legislators or members of regulatory agency, regulatory agencie ...
which aims to put forward the core values of sport in society, in the realm of politics, economics and media issues.
Sport and citizenship advocate the values of common good, independence and expertise.
Actions
Subjects
In the pursuit of multidisciplinary and transverse reflection, it brings together associations, federations, politicians, sportspeople, and academics to enable an exchange of views and an analysis of policies at both European and national member state levels.
Sport and citizenship think about societal issues and policies linked to sports which evolve through time and according to what is significant for people.
Now it focuses on topics such as gender equity in sports (women’s sports), inclusive sports, sustainable sports, etc.
Toward public
* The journal : each quarter a bilingual (French-English) scientific journal on sport is published by the think tank exploring an important theme of society. The latest ones covered ''“preventing sexual abuse and protecting people”, “sport and sustainable development”'' and “The ''“métiers pluri’elles” project women’s access to sports professions”''
* The roundtables: The association also organizes and takes part in roundtables and conferences which deal with citizenship through sport across Europe: "Conference Sport au féminin" (Conference on Women's sport), "Defending the European Football : ecosystem and tradition" or "Fire+ project conference"
* Special Publications : the think tank also publishes more substantial thematic studies which constitute a more in-depth analysis of a given topic.
Toward public authority
* Lobbying
* Counsel
* Plea
Organisation
The association operates around two teams divided between Angers and Brussels, a board of directors and a scientific committee. It can also rely on its ambassadors.
Board
The board is chaired by Laurent Thieule. It provides strategic guidelines for the think tank. Members of the board are personalities whose expertise and authority are recognised in their fields, they are politicians, journalists, professors, sportspersons, etc.
*President: Laurent Thieule, director of the European Committee of the Regions and President of Kraainem FC
*Vice Presidents: Amel Bouzoura,
Géraldine Pons and Andrzej Rogulski
*Secretary General : Alexandra Fournier-Bidoz and Nicolas Gyss
*Secretary General for Legal Affairs : Lilia Douihech
*Treasurer : Claire Allard
The scientific committee
The members of the scientific committee contribute their expertise to the work of the think tank.
* President : Colin Miège
* Co-directors : Alexandre Husting and Julien Zylberstein
Some of the members of the scientific committe :
*
Bernard Amsalem
Bernard Amsalem (born 1951 in Saida, Algeria) is a French organizer of athletics. He was vice-president of the French Athletics Federation from 1997 to 2001, and is now the president since 2001.
Amsalem was vice-president of the French Olympic ...
, former President of the
French Federation of Athletics
*
Michaël Attali, Professor at the
University of Rennes 2
Rennes 2 University (UR2; french: Université Rennes 2) is a public university located in Upper Brittany, France. It is one of the four universities in the Academy of Rennes.The two others are: UBO (Brest), Western Brittany, and UBS in Lorient - ...
and President of the French Society of Sports History
*
Pascal Bonniface, Founder and Director at the
Institute of International and Strategic Relations (IRIS)
*
Joël Bouzou
Joël Bouzou (born 30 October 1955) is a former French athlete and World Champion of modern pentathlon in 1987. Bouzou is the President of the World Olympians Association.
Biography
Sports career
Bouzou grew up in Auch, in a sporting famil ...
, President and Founder at
Peace and Sport
Peace and Sport, also known as "L’Organisation pour la Paix par le Sport" is a neutral and independent organization based in the Principality of Monaco and under the patronage of Prince Albert II of Monaco.
Peace and Sport work in areas across ...
*
Christian Bromberger
Christian Bromberger (Born in 1946, Paris) is a French professor of anthropology and an expert of Iranian studies at the University of Provence in France. He is a specialist in studying the culture of Gilan in the Northern side of Iran and also th ...
, Emeritus Professor of Ethnology at the
University of Aix-Marseille
Aix-Marseille University (AMU; french: Aix-Marseille Université; formally incorporated as ''Université d'Aix-Marseille'') is a public research university located in the Provence region of southern France. It was founded in 1409 when Louis II of ...
*
Philippe Housiaux
Philippe Housiaux (born 10 December 1947) is a Belgian sprinter. He competed in the men's 100 metres at the 1968 Summer Olympics
The 1968 Summer Olympics ( es, Juegos Olímpicos de Verano de 1968), officially known as the Games of the XIX ...
, Doctor of Law, President of the Wallonia-Brussels Panathlon
*
Didier Lehénaff, associate Professor in Physical and Sporting Education, President at SVPlanète, conceiver of the Eco-Games
*
Marie-Cécile Naves
Marie-Cécile Naves is a French sociologist and political scientist who is the director of research at Institut de relations internationales et stratégiques (IRIS). A specialist in the United States, she also speaks on the themes of sports and g ...
, Studies Manager of Sport and Citizenship Think Tank, Autor, Political scientist, Director of publication of the Chronik site
The team
The team around 10 people, managed by Julian Jappert, Director of the Think Tank between Angers and Brussels. Brussels office mainly focuses on European projects affairs.
Financing
"Sport and citizenship" has two sources of funding: grants and patrons.
The European Commission is an significant partner in the management of European projects.
References
External links
Sport and Citizenship web site
{{Authority control
Think tanks based in France
Think tanks based in Belgium
Sports organizations of France
Sports organisations of Belgium
Advocacy groups in France
Advocacy groups in Belgium
Angers
Organisations based in Brussels
Sport in Brussels