Dear Colleagues,
Dear Friends of Sport and Sport Science,
"Discover Tomorrow"
This is the official slogan for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. The sustainability concept of the Games is: "Be better, together - For the planet and the people". The Olympic and Paralympic Games are among the world's largest sporting events. This impact is not limited to sport, but also on society, the economy and the environment. We aim with this symposium to emphasize the impact on the environment.
Sustainability is specifically manifested in Olympic Agenda 2020 by Recommendation 4: Include sustainability in all aspects of the Olympic Games. This is about the IOC taking a more proactive lead in ensuring that sustainability is properly factored into the planning and staging and legacy of the Olympic Games. The important distinction here will be what the IOC can do itself to make the Olympic Games a more sustainable event, recognising that many aspects will be under the control of the respective host cities and Organising Committees of the Olympic Games.
Recommendation 5: Include sustainability within the Olympic Movement’s daily operations. This recommendation has three main elements. Firstly, for the IOC to develop its own corporate sustainability programme – in effect, “walking the talk”. Secondly, it is about reaching out to the wider Olympic Movement to provide assistance and means of sharing best practices. Thirdly, there is a role of “representation and advocacy” on behalf of the Olympic Movement, to ensure sport has a credible and effective voice in global sustainability dialogue, and to leverage key partnerships.
IOC president Dr. Thomas Bach said: “Building on Olympic Agenda 2020 and developed in close cooperation with many stakeholders and partners, the IOC Sustainability Strategy will fundamentally shape the working practices of the IOC, the Olympic Games and the Olympic Movement. From the design and construction of sport facilities and the way we manage resources, to valuing the natural environment and health and well-being of our people, all of our decisions will be informed by the sustainability principles that are highlighted here.”
Following this call for action, we would like to invite you to Tokyo for the 10th International Sport Business Symposium, organised by Prof. Holger Preuss (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz) in cooperation with Prof. Dr. Hisashi Sanada and Associate Prof. Yoshio Takahashi (University of Tsukuba, Tokyo) supported by TIAS.
The Symposium Spirit
The Greek symposium, dated back on 416 B.C., was a key social institution in ancient Hellenic culture and provided a platform for debate and celebration with others. This is also what we are striving for! Since 2006 it has become a tradition that Olympic scholars from all over the world come together for a symposium during the Olympic Games as well as other Olympic events to exchange thoughts, present their Olympic research and have a great time together. The next occasion will be Tuesday, August 4, 2020.
Context and Venue
The Olympic Games are the most prestigious sport event in the world and provide extraordinary opportunities in regards to sports, social and cultural life as well as for the environment of the host city, region and country. The host must undertake tremendous efforts to not only fulfil the requirements for staging the Games, but also to maximize the economic, social, environmental, political, and structural benefits which come along with the event.
This demand will lead to a tremendous ecological impact and negative footprint. Hosting Olympic Games in Japan, an extremely developed country induce chances to be environmentally sustainable.
Tokyo 2020 set the sustainability concept of the Games as "Be better, together - For the planet and the people". The Organizing Committee wants to take the initiative to meet its responsibility to deliver sustainable Games and showcase solution models of global sustainability challenges to people in Japan and around the world.
How to take part
Scholars who would like to present at the symposium will need to submit their abstracts for a double blind review process.
We cordially invite you to the 10th International Sport Business Symposium and we would be delighted to seeing you at the University of Tsukuba Tokyo Campus in Tokyo in August.
With kind regards,
Prof. Dr. Holger Preuß Prof. Dr. Hisashi Sanada & Prof. Dr. Yoshio Takahashi
