PtG Article 23.05.2022

The full programme for Play the Game’s anniversary edition is ready


The detailed programme for Play the Game 2022 in Odense, Denmark, is now ready and you can still register with a discount for the event that takes place at a crucial point in international sports politics.

When several hundred international journalists, academics, sport leaders, athletes and others with an interest in international sports politics convene in Odense for the 2022 edition of Play the Game, it happens at a dramatic turning point in sports politics. After a major doping scandal and the invasion of Ukraine, Russia's power in sport is shrinking, and the question of who and what will fill the power gap left behind will be prominent on the conference’s agenda.

“The question is whether China or other authoritarian states from the Middle East will step up, or if we have a unique opportunity to build a stronger link between sport and human rights,” says Jens Sejer Andersen, international director of Play the Game.

The issue of sport and human rights will be addressed from the very beginning of the conference with a debate that asks whether international sport has managed to influence Qatar to improve human rights in the country in the run-up to this year’s world cup in football. Another debate on the opening day will take a closer look at the sports political landscape after Russia’s loss of influence in international sports politics.

From showcasing problems to finding solutions

More than 150 speakers have signed up for this year’s conference which also marks the 25th anniversary of Play the Game. During that time Play the Game has moved from being a ‘home for the homeless questions in sport’ to becoming a widely recognised forum for open, independent and factual debates on a range of key problems within international sport.

“Earlier Play the Game conferences often showcased and documented the issues that international sports organisations were not addressing, but many taboos have been broken over the past decade. Now our role is also to facilitate debates on how to solve the problems that are finally acknowledged. However, there is still a need for a place where the suppressed voices and whistleblowers in sport can speak out,” says Jens Sejer Andersen.

Therefore, the programme for this conference will range from classic Play the Game themes related to doping, corruption, and crime to new themes such as the need for a reform of the international Court of Arbitration for Sport and the role of the sports sector in responding to the climate crisis.

Once again, the conference has managed to attract speakers with expert knowledge and ability to influence the decisions that are made in the world of sport. The full speaker’s list is long and includes names such as

  • Allison Wagner, director of Athlete and International Relations, USADA, USA
  • David Goldblatt, sportswriter, journalist and author, United Kingdom
  • Drago Koss, chairman, OECD Working Group on Bribery, Slovenia
  • Günther Younger, director, Intelligence and Investigations, WADA, Switzerland
  • Katherine Starr, CEO, Team Athlete Integrity, USA
  • Khalida Popal, director, Girl Power Organisation, Afghanistan
  • Mary Harvey, CEO, Centre for Sport and Human Rights, USA/Switzerland
  • Miguel Maduro, director, professor, School of Transnational Governance at the European University Institute, Portugal
  • Minky Worden, director of Global Initiatives, Human Rights Watch, USA
  • Nancy Hogshead-Makar, founder and CEO, Champion Women, USA
  • Nick Harris, journalist, Sporting Intelligence, United Kingdom
  • Tariq Panja, journalist, New York Times, United Kingdom 

Registration for the conference is still open, and until 31 May you can join the conference at a discounted rate.

More news stories about Play the Game 2022

Panel debate at SAPIS conference
PtG Article 04.10.2023
Conference showcased many examples of how athletes organise to protect and further their own interests
Runners hugging
PtG Article 20.09.2023
New SAPIS report highlights that many athletes still lack influence and points to ways forward for better athlete representation
Presenters at conference
PtG Article 14.09.2023
Special call for journalists to present their work and investigations at Play the Game 2024
People at desk
PtG Article 13.09.2023
Broad Nordic support for Play the Game’s first conference in Norway
Spanish women futsal players
PtG Article 28.08.2023
Pioneers share success stories about athlete influence at SAPIS conference
Fans of Larne football club
PtG Article 08.08.2023
Despite a few newcomers, UEFA's Champions League is less diverse than ever
Tennis player
PtG Article 13.07.2023
Book 28 September and contribute to strengthening athlete power in sport
Runners
PtG Article 19.06.2023
SAPIS project launches good practice guide to strengthen athletes’ power in sport
Speakers at a conference
PtG Article 13.06.2023
Play the Game 2024 announces conference name, main themes and call for papers
FBI raids CONCACAF
PtG Article 08.06.2023
ClearingSport: Almost 200 experts call for an agency against corruption and crime in world sport
PtG Comment 27.03.2023
Coe and Bach: United in history, divided by history
PtG Article 10.03.2023
Spree of buying clubs threatens football integrity
Trondheim
PtG Article 20.02.2023
Next Play the Game conference to be held in Trondheim, Norway, 4-7 February 2024
Skiers
PtG Article 02.02.2023
Sport and the environment: A very short history
Olympic rings
PtG Article 02.02.2023
A thought experiment: Estimating global sports’ total carbon emissions
Rainy football pitch
PtG Article 02.02.2023
Play the Game launches guide and academy course on sport and climate change

Find out more about the conference