Play the Game presents conference title and themes

When Play the Game opens its doors to stakeholders in sport it will be under the title ‘stepping up for democracy in sport’. As usual the conference will be a forum for discussion of both current essential issues and a peek into the future of world sport. 

More than 300 experts and stakeholders are expected to join this 8th edition of the world communication conference on sport and society taking place in Play the Game's home town of Aarhus, Denmark. 

Six main themes have been chosen for this year’s conference, which reflect both the current state and future perspectives on world sport:

• Match fixing: Fair game for gangsters?

• Sports reforms: Fact or phantom?

• The anti-doping dilemma: Saving sport, sacrificing athletes?

• Recreational sport: A lost cause for sports organisations?

• Sports facilities: Who are we building for?

• From Russia to Rio: Power games or people’s games?
  
  
• Open forum

The challenge for Play the Game is to strike a balance between on one hand with the issues that are a constant threat to sport’s integrity and to a healthy relation between sport and society, and on the other explore new areas of interest.

“It would be irresponsible to sacrifice themes like match fixing and organisational corruption that Play the Game has highlighted at earlier events, just in order to avoid repetition. These themes are still decisive for the future of sport, and they demand constant public awareness,” argues Jens Sejer Andersen, international director of Play the Game.

“We acknowledge, though, that sport also have other kinds of challenges in its day-to-day practices, and this is why we look forward to raising debate about how we shape sport’s facilities and physical infrastructure, as well as how sports organisations have lost ground over two decades when it comes to mobilizing the population to physical activity. We will do our best to make Play the Game 2013 re-vitalise the debate about grassroots sport.” 

You can read more about Play the Game 2013 on the conference website www.playthegame.org/2013