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Autor: Kim Schu
Die Teilnahme an der 5th World Association for Sport Management (WASM) Conference 2026 in Kapstadt stellte für Holger Preuß, Yannick Rinker, Kim Schu und Lina-Doreen Rose ein fachlich wie persönlich äußerst bereicherndes Ereignis dar. Die Konferenz, ausgerichtet von der North-West University (NWU) und der Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), bot eine zentrale Plattform für den internationalen Austausch zu aktuellen Entwicklungen im Sportmanagement.
Im Mittelpunkt standen aktuelle Themen wie die Weiterentwicklung des Sportmanagements, der Einsatz neuer Technologien in Lehre und Forschung sowie der Austausch zwischen Wissenschaft und Praxis. Gleichzeitig bot die Konferenz eine gute Gelegenheit, internationale Kontakte zu knüpfen und bestehende Kooperationen zu vertiefen.
Bereits vor der eigentlichen Konferenz nahmen Kim Schu, Lina-Doreen Rose und Yannick Rinker am PhD Seminar teil. Dort standen Workshops zu Forschungsmethoden, wissenschaftlichem Arbeiten und Karrierewegen im Fokus. Holger Preuß gab in diesem Rahmen einen Einblick, wie Künstliche Intelligenz den Forschungsprozess unterstützen kann, etwa bei Literaturrecherche oder Manuskriptgestaltung.
Auch in der Hauptkonferenz waren alle mit eigenen Beiträgen vertreten. Prof. Dr. Holger Preuß war in mehreren Formaten präsent und brachte seine Expertise insbesondere im Bereich Mega-Sport-Events und Governance ein:
- Plenary Panel: Sport mega-events and sustainable development
- Workshop: An Olympics in Africa? Shaping the Games to the City
- Workshop: Bridging Theory and Practice Through Systematic Collaboration
- Vortrag: Reviewing Mega Sporting Event Legacies: Structural, Impact & Stakeholder
- Vortrag: A Critical View at the Autonomy of Sport Concept in Light of Recent Developments
Auch die Nachwuchswissenschaftler:innen präsentierten ihre aktuellen Forschungsprojekte:
- Lina-Doreen Rose: How the Integration of Women’s Football Affects the Organizational Structures of Professional Football Clubs
- Yannick Rinker: Ecological Cost-Benefit Analysis of Mega Sport Events – A Conceptual Framework
- Kim Schu: Policy Development in Response to Technological Disruption: The Case of Cheating Prevention in German Chess
Neben dem fachlichen Programm blieb auch Zeit, Kapstadt und die Umgebung näher kennenzulernen. Im Anschluss an die Konferenz verbrachten alle noch etwa eine Woche – teilweise gemeinsam – im Raum Kapstadt. Dabei blieb man weiterhin im engen Austausch mit internationalen Kolleginnen und Kollegen. Neben einer gemeinsamen Stadiontour im DHL Stadium standen auch mehrere Ausflüge sowie gemeinsame Abendessen auf dem Programm, die den fachlichen Austausch in informeller Atmosphäre weiter vertieften.
Insgesamt bot die WASM 2026 viele fachliche Impulse, neue Kontakte und spannende Einblicke in aktuelle Themen des Sportmanagements.
English version:
Participation in the 5th World Association for Sport Management (WASM) Conference 2026 in Cape Town was a highly enriching experience, both professionally and personally, for Holger Preuß, Yannick Rinker, Kim Schu, and Lina-Doreen Rose. The conference, hosted by North-West University (NWU) and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), provided an important platform for international exchange on current developments in sport management.
The conference focused on key topics such as the advancement of sport management, the integration of new technologies in teaching and research, and the strengthening of links between academia and practice. At the same time, it offered valuable opportunities to establish new international contacts and deepen existing collaborations.
Prior to the main conference, Kim Schu, Lina-Doreen Rose, and Yannick Rinker participated in the PhD Seminar. The seminar included workshops on research methods, academic writing, and career development. In this context, Holger Preuß contributed with a session on how artificial intelligence can support the research process, for example in literature reviews and manuscript development.
All participants were also actively involved in the main conference with their own contributions. Prof. Dr. Holger Preuß participated in several formats and contributed his expertise particularly in the field of mega sport events and governance:
- Plenary Panel: Sport mega-events and sustainable development
- Workshop: An Olympics in Africa? Shaping the Games to the City
- Workshop: Bridging Theory and Practice Through Systematic Collaboration
- Presentation: Reviewing Mega Sporting Event Legacies: Structural, Impact & Stakeholder
- Presentation: A Critical View at the Autonomy of Sport Concept in Light of Recent Developments
The early-career researchers also presented their current research projects:
- Lina-Doreen Rose: How the Integration of Women’s Football Affects the Organizational Structures of Professional Football Clubs
- Yannick Rinker: Ecological Cost-Benefit Analysis of Mega Sport Events – A Conceptual Framework
- Kim Schu: Policy Development in Response to Technological Disruption: The Case of Cheating Prevention in German Chess
In addition to the academic program, there was also time to explore Cape Town and its surroundings. Following the conference, the group spent about one more week in the Cape Town area, partly together. During this time, they remained in close contact with international colleagues. Activities included a joint stadium tour at the DHL Stadium, as well as several excursions and shared dinners, which further strengthened academic exchange in an informal setting.
Overall, WASM 2026 provided valuable academic input, new connections, and insightful perspectives on current issues in sport management.