Tampere University has secured funding from the Research Council of Finland for a new research initiative focused on improving governance in the sports sector. The project, titled Good Governance in Sport: Game-Changing Narratives of Value Creation and Destruction (GoGoS), was awarded funding under the Academy Programme for Sport Science and Physical Activity (ACTIVE).
The three-year research project will examine how good governance practices create or diminish value for stakeholders across different levels of the sports system, including public administration, national sports organizations, sports clubs, and elite athletes.
Led by Associate Professor Elias Pekkola from Tampere University’s Faculty of Management and Business, the project aims to generate new insights into the values, challenges, and conflicts associated with sport governance. The findings are expected to support the development of more responsible, transparent, and equitable governance practices throughout the sports sector.
A key feature of the project is its close collaboration with major Finnish sports organizations, including the Finnish Institute of High Performance Sport (KIHU), the Finnish Olympic Committee, and the Finnish Center for Integrity in Sports (FINCIS). This partnership is designed to strengthen the practical application of research findings and enhance their impact on the Finnish sports system.
The research team also includes University Instructor Marjukka Mikkonen, a leading expert in sport management and governance, with a particular focus on gender equality in sports.
The ACTIVE programme supports innovative and impactful research related to sport and physical activity. In the latest funding round, the Research Council of Finland awarded a total of €2.45 million to five selected projects from 49 applications submitted nationwide.
