Play the Game 2027 will take place in Cali, Colombia
The 15th edition of the international Play the Game conference will take place from 14-17 November 2027 in Cali, Colombia. It is the first time the conference will be held in Latin America.
Play the Game marks the opening of a new chapter in November 2027, when its international conference travels to Latin America for the first time, bringing together journalists, academics, athletes, sports officials, policymakers, and other stakeholders for several days of open debate on the most pressing challenges facing world sport.
Play the Game 2027 is the 15th edition of the conference and will be organised in partnership with the City of Cali, the national sports university Escuela Nacional del Deporte, and the Colombian coaches’ organisation COCED (Colegio Colombiano de Entrenamiento Deportivo).
“For many years, we have had an ambition to bring Play the Game to Latin America. We are excited and grateful that our partners now enable us to make that dream come true. It is a fitting way to mark that Play the Game reaches its 30th anniversary in 2027,” says Stanis Elsborg, head of Play the Game.
Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, is widely known as one of the country’s leading sports hubs and has hosted numerous events over the years. Often referred to as Colombia’s sports capital, the city is equally famous for its vibrant cultural life – particularly its world-renowned salsa scene and strong Afro-Pacific heritage. Together, sport and culture give Cali a unique identity that reflects the diversity and energy of the wider region.
“Through the years, we have built strong relationships with researchers, journalists and sports organisations across Latin America who share our commitment to strengthening democracy, transparency, and integrity in sport,” says Elsborg.
By placing the conference in Cali, Play the Game hopes to make it more accessible for stakeholders in the region and enable them to enrich the sports political agenda with new perspectives.
“Latin America faces many of the same challenges to sports integrity as the rest of the world, but often with fewer institutional resources to address them. At the same time, the region – and indeed Cali – has strong traditions of civic engagement and innovative approaches to using sport for social development, inclusion, and peacebuilding. That makes it a very inspiring setting for Play the Game to further develop the dialogue on the future of sport,” says Elsborg.
Since its foundation in 1997, Play the Game has established itself as one of the leading international platforms for raising awareness and stimulating debate about critical issues in modern sport.
Play the Game 2027 will bring together hundreds of speakers and participants from around the world to discuss a wide range of issues such as doping, corruption, good governance, match-fixing, the sustainability of mega-events, the role of sports journalism, geopolitical influence, and the human rights of athletes and others involved in sport.
Local partners emphasise that the conference fits well with their ambitions for sport and international cooperation.
Alexander Camacho, secretary of Sport and Recreation, Mayor’s Office of Santiago de Cali, says:
“Bringing Play the Game 2027 to Santiago de Cali is a great opportunity to show the world who we are: a city that lives and breathes sport in its streets, its venues, and its people. Today, Cali is emerging as a capital that not only hosts major sporting events, but also contributes to the global conversation on the future of sport and its role as a driver of transformation.
This event allows us to connect with a global dialogue on governance, transparency, and integrity, while also sharing our local experience and learning from others.
Cali is ready to welcome the world, to open spaces for dialogue, and to demonstrate that here, sport is also something we reflect on, build, and live with conviction.”
Patricia Martínez, rector (president), Institución Universitaria Escuela Nacional del Deporte, says:
“At the Institución Universitaria Escuela Nacional del Deporte, we see sport not only as a field of knowledge, but as a space where governance, ethics, and public policy converge in ways that directly shape society. In this context, hosting Play the Game 2027 in Cali is a strategic opportunity to contribute from academia to global discussions on integrity, transparency, and accountability in sport – bringing perspectives that emerge from the Global South and enriching the international dialogue.
Being part of Play the Game 2027 allows us to connect our academic work and research with global debates and to position sport as a key driver of social development, inclusion, and peacebuilding.
Institutionally, we have actively contributed to major international events such as the World Games, the Pan American Games, the World Athletics Championships, and COP16, reinforcing our capacity to engage with global agendas.
For Cali, this is also a defining moment. We live in a city shaped by diversity, resilience, and a profound sense of community – one that leaves a lasting impression on those who visit, inviting them to stay, return, and connect with its people and the cultural energy that flows through its everyday life. In Cali, sport is deeply embedded in society and plays a transformative role in social development. Opening our doors to the world through Play the Game 2027 is an opportunity to share not only our culture and values, but our understanding of sport as a bridge for dialogue, peace, and transformation.”
Néstor Ordóñez Saavedra, president, Colegio Colombiano de Entrenamiento Deportivo, says:
“From the Colombian Association of Sports Coaching – COCED, we are committed to elevating and dignifying the profession of sports coaching in Colombia. In this effort, we face two major challenges: first, to protect practitioners by ensuring that coaches do not put their lives or integrity at risk; and second, to guarantee that the work carried out by sports coaches is performed under fair and decent conditions.
In this context, Play the Game 2027 is highly relevant for us, as it strengthens our ongoing efforts to promote safe environments for sports practice across our territories. It also supports our commitment to safeguarding the rights of both athletes and coaches.
Additionally, we recognize the importance of advancing equity within the sector, and we actively promote the participation of women in sport.”
The last Play the Game conference was held in Tampere, Finland, in October 2025 and gathered more than 500 participants from across the global sports community for debates on governance, athlete welfare, geopolitical influence and the future of sports integrity.
Planning of the 2027 conference will now begin in cooperation with the Colombian partners. More information about the programme, themes, and practical arrangements will be announced later.
The conference venue and main hotels will be the Spiwak Chipichape and Spirito hotels in Cali, which have extensive experience in hosting large conferences and are located close to the city’s international airport.
More information about accommodation and booking opportunities will be available on the conference website.
The call for papers and registration page will open during autumn 2026 with updated prices and practical information. You can stay informed by signing up to Play the Game’s free newsletter.
About the partners
City of Cali
Cali is widely known as one of Colombia’s leading sports cities and has hosted numerous international competitions and sporting events. The city promotes sport as a tool for social development, cultural exchange, and international cooperation.
COCED (Colegio Colombiano de Entrenamiento Deportivo)
COCED is a national organisation representing tens of thousands of sports coaches and professional training institutions across Colombia. The organisation works to strengthen the professional standards and education of coaches and to promote the development of sport in Colombian society.
Escuela Nacional del Deporte
Escuela Nacional del Deporte, based in Cali, is Colombia’s national sports university, educating students in sports science, coaching, and sports management while contributing research and knowledge to the development of sport in the country.