The Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) published the selection results of the Erasmus+ Sport – Call for proposals. EASM is extremely proud and happy that the project under the title ‘Promoting health enhancing physical activity and social welfare through outdoor running events’ of which EASM is a project partner, has been selected for funding from the European Union.

The result is a great recognition of the project coordinator – Aristotelio Panepistimio Thessalonikis – Eidikos Logariasmos Kondilion Erevnas and all Consortium – EASM, Lithuanian Sports University, The University of Leuven, Mulier Insitute, NHTV Breda Univesity of Applied Sciences, The European Culture and Sport Organization.

The project aims to examine the impact of sport events on an individual (psychosocial health) and society (social and economic/tourism) level. The role of EASM in this project will be to provide consultancy as well as being an integral part of the dissemination of the project findings.

The project will be co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union in the amount of 346.800 EUR and is scheduled for 2 years (2019.01.01-2020.12.31).

Exploring new routes within brand research in Sport Management

After a very successful special issue workshop during the 26th European Sport Management Conference in Malmö with inspiring presentations and lively discussions, the submission deadline for this ESMQ special issue is approaching: November 30, 2018.

Submissions that discuss “new routes within brand research in sport management: facing challenges between heritage and innovation” and focus on any of the following topics are particularly welcome, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Globalization
• Commercialization
• Digitalization
• Psychological brand ownership
• Sport brand co-creation
• Brand experience
• Strategic brand management
• Brand alliances / sponsorships
• Athlete brand management

Papers should be submitted in electronic format through Scholar One Manuscripts, indicating you want the manuscript to be considered for Special Issue 20.1. (The detailed Call for Papers is available at: http://explore.tandfonline.com/cfp/pgas/resm-cfp-brand-research)

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact the guest editors: Tim Ströbel, University of Bern (tim.stroebel@ispw.unibe.ch) andClaas Christian Germelmann, University of Bayreuth (c.c.germelmann@uni-bayreuth.de).

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 26^thEASM – The European SportManagement Conference, hosted by the Department of Sport Science at Malmö University. The conference attracted about 500 participants from 43 nations. In connection to the conferencea Student Seminar with 50 students and a PhDStudent Seminar with 21 PhDstudents took place. The conference theme Managing Sport in a Changing Europe, aimed at reflecting ongoing processes of change and challenges within sport and society to be handled by sportorganisations/actors at different levels including globalisation, migration, segregation, integration, etc.

To organisethe EASM conference is very time and energy consuming, and in many ways challenging. Overarching strategies and issues, as well as thousands of small but yet important details, have to be handled by a local organisingcommittee on a daily basis for a long period of time. However, it is also an opportunity to have an impact on the field of sportmanagement and future directions. Through the conference theme and selected keynote speakers, we wanted sportmanagement to step out of its comfort zone. This is something we deem necessary in order for sportmanagement to have a wider social and societal relevance.

Not only the conference but also the Student Seminar was an opportunity to challenge and develop the dominant tradition of sportmanagement and thereby influence the future of the professional as well as the academic field. We think, for example, that the theme around ‘How to manage issues of children’s rights, integration and inclusion in and through sports’ was an eye-opener to a lot of the students. By the way, having the students from all over the world with us was great and added vibrancy to the whole event.

Maybe, the most important function of the conference is to create an arena for networking and exchange of ideas and knowledge. The way the programme is constructed, the nerve added by the keynotes, openness to new perspectives, an inviting spatial setting, proximity and, of course, a relevant content aresupportive structures for the creation and exchange of ideas. We hope that this was provided in Malmö.

We believe that the spatial and social context of the conference, Malmö andSweden in this case, should have an impact on the conference and the conference theme. It could of coursebe used as place marketing, but more importantly, it creates credibility and a concrete basis for interesting discussions, also from critical perspectives. The city of Malmö with its growing population, tangible social and economic challenges and innovative and progressive projects, solutions and sportenvironment, worked as an inspiring and illustrative frame for the conference and the Student Seminar.

Based on this, Malmö will become the first EASM Legacy Charter City and representatives of Malmö University will regularly report at future EASM Conferences on the use of sportmanagement in responding to challenges faced by the city. So, you’ll hear more from us!

Finally, hosting the EASM conference is a great team building exercise (size XXL)! We have all learned a lot about ourselves and each other in the LOC. As the president of the conference, I’m extremely proud of my team.

As one member of the LOC said yesterday: “I have repeatedly asked myself: Was it worth it? Has our department or myself benefited from organising the EASM conference or was it just one year’s wasted work? Despite a bumpy ride and a bunch of stress along the ride, I think we would do it all over again, but maybe not in the next couple of years :)”

We are more than happy to welcome you to visit us in Malmö again. Also, see you all in Seville next year!

Varma hälsningar från/Warm greetings from

Karin Book (President of EASM 2018)
on behalf of the Local Organising Committee
Department of Sport Science
Malmö University
Sweden

Video EASM Graffiti

Final Report EASM 2018

The 26th European Sport Management Conference provided an excellent programme and environment for students, PhD students, researchers and professionals. It created the opportunity to network and broaden their knowledge in various fields.

Three of the delegates were able to secure the Alberto Madella Scholarship, which supported their visit with 500 Euro. It was up to the scholarship holders to attend the student seminar, PhD student seminar, conference or a combination.

Meet the 2018 scholarship holders and read about their experience at EASM 2018 in Malmö:

Seth Kirby, Lord Ashcroft International Business School (LAIBS), Anglia Ruskin University; Experiences from EASM 2018

Kimberley Hardcastle, Northumbria University; Experiences from EASM 2018

Charitomeni Tsordia, University of Patras; Experiences from EASM 2018

Malmö is the first host city of an EASM Conference that has signed a commitment to sustain the legacy of the conference.

As a city with social and economic challenges as well as innovative and progressive projects, Malmö acknowledges the role sport can play in meeting the challenges of a modern city.

The successful conference and partnership between the university, city and EASM have inspired the partners to introduce the Malmö charter and use the event to create a lasting legacy. Regular reports will be presented at future EASM Conferences on how sport management addresses challenges faced by the city.

The Malmö Charter has been signed by the Mayor of the City of Malmö, Mr. Kent Andersson, the Head of the Department of Sport Science of Malmö University, Torun Mattson, and the President of EASM, Vassil Girginov.

EASM – The Malmö Charter

As part of the 2018 Annual General Meeting on 7th September 2018 in Malmö the vacant positions on the EASM Board were filled.

We welcome four new members on the board: Karin Book (Sweden), Mary Charalambous-Papamiltiades (Cyprus), Bob Olukoya (United Kingdom) and Annick Willem (Belgium).

Former Treasurer on the board Claas Christian Germelmann (Germany) has been elected as Vice President and former board member Aila Ahonen (Finland) has been elected as Treasurer. Irena Valantine (Lithuania) has been re-elected in her role as a board member as well as Jakob Wikenstål as student representative.

President Vassil Girginov (Bulgaria), General Secretary Stefan Walzel (Germany), as well as board members Christos Anagnostopoulos (Greece), Guillaume Bodet (France) and Paul Downward (United Kingdom) will continue in their respective roles.

We are pleased you have chosen to serve the association with your expertise and knowledge in the next year and after the successful Conference in Sweden we are going into this new term with motivation and excitement.

Full EASM Board information can be found here: https://easm.devserv24.de/board/

We would like to congratulate Malmö on an outstanding conference, that has not only gathered researches in Sport Management in Europe and the World to exchange their knowledge and expertise, but has also inspired young people to be part of a community that is truly unique.

With the seamless organisation and presentation of the conference program, the social events and the details of focusing on sustainability and zero waste, Malmö has left a strong impression of a modern city, that thinks ahead.

Malmö, that is not only the city. For participants of EASM 2018, it is the warm welcoming character of this place across the bridge and an Organising Committee that has worked tirelessly towards delivering a memorable experience. The impressive young university, that has supported the conference, and the mayor of the city of Malmö, who has welcomed us to an impressive closing ceremony, which we won’t forget. It is also the volunteers, that helped everyone of us to find the right venue for the next session and the chefs that fed us all that good food.

Malmö has set the bar high for the future and we look forward to see you in Seville in 2019!

Dear EASM Board,

I just wanted to drop an email to thank EASM for the many opportunities it has allowed me over the years.  I have worked with some amazing people who have taught me a lot and I thank you for that.  In the work I have undertaken for EASM, WASM and also the work I do for my University, I have learnt that the “best organisations” that are seen as global and international, demonstrate key success factors.  The most effective global organisations are those ones that embrace change and recognise the need to.  The top organisations are those that do not demonstrate ethnocentric behaviour.  Behaviours that suggests this is the best way because our organisation has been established the longest, or this is the best way because we do it this way in our country, or this is the best way because an individual or organisation has a title, status or ranking, so the perception is that they “know best”.

Rather, the finest organisations are those ones, who learn from best practice regardless of status, country, title, longevity etc.  The most effective organisations are those that embrace cultural diversity and recognise that there are different ways to view things and different ways to do things.  That recognise individuals for the skills, competences and attitudes they can bring to an organisation in helping to advance that organisation, as oppose to personal gain.  Leading international organisations that are most effective are ones that foster true teamwork, the best sports teams are not made up of 10 superstars, rather a group of individuals who understand the common goal and all have roles to play in delivering that.

I thank EASM for giving me the opportunity to reflect and learn such values, in all the work I have undertaken voluntarily for EASM, I have attempted to do so to the best of my ability for the development of EASM.  I have made some great, loyal friends along the way and have had the pleasure to work with some lovely inspirational, humble individuals.  I will continue to be involved with EASM albeit in a different way from now on, with a bit more time to enjoy the conferences, seminars and other services offered.

Above all of this though, I have had such fun for many years and this is one of the values I hold dearly, because if you cannot have fun, laugh and smile in the work we undertake, then we are missing out on one of the greatest gifts God has granted us.  So EASM Board, many thanks for all the opportunities, take care and keep up the great work.

Cheers Ruth