Wednesday, November 05, 2008

CFP: Olympic Reform: A Ten-Year Review

CALL FOR PAPERS

“Olympic Reform: A Ten-Year Review”
University of Toronto, May 19-20, 2009

In 1999, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) embarked upon a major series of reforms to governance, the bidding process to host Olympics, the reporting of information, and to important programmes such as Olympic Solidarity.

The reforms came in response to revelations of bribes paid to ensure that Salt Lake City won the right to host the 2002 Winter Olympics. As major sponsors threatened to withdraw their support, the IOC responded by establishing the ‘2000 Commission’. The 2000 Commission’s 50 recommendations for reform were quickly approved.
This conference will conduct a critical review of the implementation of the reform package – successes, failures and unintended consequences. The review is timely because the reforms were introduced with no independent review mechanism; and the conference takes place mid-way between the Beijing and Vancouver Olympics.
Academics, activists, policy makers and sport leaders will gather to examine the context of reform, evaluate the implementation of the 1999 reform package, and identify issues and concerns that warrant further analysis and action.

Abstracts and proposals for sessions are invited in the following areas:

The Context of Reform -- topics related to the growing climate of reform that preceded the Salt Lake City scandal, including (but not limited to): the struggle for gender equity at the Olympics; the growth of critical scholarship and investigative journalism; the Olympic Truce and peace building initiatives; doping scandals and reform initiatives; and the politics of Olympic site selection.

Critical Analysis of the Reform Package – topics related to the IOC 2000 Commission reforms, including (but not limited to): Olympic Solidarity – Sport development and development through sport; WADA and doping; bidding for the Olympic Games before and after Salt Lake City; Olympic legacies; equity, representation, and the structure of the IOC; transparency and communication; and Olympism, education and culture.

Athletes’ Rights – topics related to the influence of IOC reforms on athletes’ rights, including (but not limited to): health, injury, and doping; media rights and the right to speak out; child athletes; sponsorship; labour rights; and other issues concerning the similarities and differences between athletes’ rights and the rights guaranteed to all humans under various international Charters.

Olympic Reform: Monitoring and Advocacy – topics related to monitoring the implementation of reforms and advocating for future reforms, including (but not limited to): Olympics and corporate social responsibility; sport and ‘good governance’; environment and sustainable development; Sport for All; sport for development and peace; legacies; ensuring rights; and conflict resolution.



The conference will feature keynote addresses by international and Canadian sport leaders and scholars, plenary panel discussions, as well as open paper sessions. Conference organizers are encouraging submissions for both individual presentations and session topics. Abstracts should be no longer than 250 words (and include the paper/session title, and presenter’s name and affiliation). Deadline for the submission of abstracts is January 31, 2009.

Submit abstracts and any questions to the Conference Organizer, Russell Field, at: russell.field@utoronto.ca

Dr. Bruce Kidd
Dean, Faculty of Physical Education and Health
University of Toronto

Dr. Peter Donnelly
Director, Centre for Sport Policy Studies
University of Toronto

Dr. Russell Field
Faculty of Physical Education and Health
University of Toronto

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