Photo: Thomas Søndergaard
Play the Game 2025
5-8 October in Tampere, Finland
For the 14th time, Play the Game will open the doors for a conference that connects academics, journalists, and other stakeholders in sport to share research insights and debate key issues in international sport.
Sign up for the conference now
Registration for Play the Game is now open, and you can sign up for the conference now at a special early bird rate.
Read more about registration and prices
Read more about conference grants for for media professionals from low-income countries
Call for papers and other contributions
Play the Game invites academics, journalists, athlete representatives, sports officials, supporter groups, and other stakeholders in sport to contribute their research, knowledge, and experiences at Play the Game 2025.
We welcome and encourage a broad range of contributions, from academic research and investigative journalism to personal testimonies and lived experiences. This is your opportunity to engage in dialogue and drive the conversations about the future of sport, as top experts, insiders, and reformers challenge each other on the direction of global sport.
Deadline for abstract/storyline submission is Thursday, 15 May 2025.
Read more about how you can participate in the conference in our call for papers and other contributions
The Play the Game conferences encourage a broad range of contributions from all stakeholders in sport. Photos: Thomas Søndergaard/Play the Game
Conference information
Play the Game 2025 will take place on 5-8 October 2025 and will be held in partnership with the City of Tampere. Tampere is one of the most active cities in hosting sports events in Northern Europe and works internationally to strengthen the legacy of the big public investments in events.
The conference will be co-hosted by the Finnish Center for Integrity in Sports (FINCIS), one of a growing number of national bodies with multiple tasks in sports integrity. Among other things, FINCIS is responsible for investigating serious ethical violations and presenting disciplinary provisions in centralised disciplinary procedures.
The conference venue is the Tampere Hall, a versatile culture and congress centre located in central Tampere.
Questions and contact
For questions regarding the programme contact Stanis Elsborg, head of Play the Game, at stanis@playthegame.org or phone +45 6177 4915.
For practical questions contact Maria Suurballe, conference manager, at maria@playthegame.org or phone +45 2020 6838.
Read more about Play the Game 2025
Read news about the previous conference
Male athletes could have twice the risk of dying from cardiac issues compared to men of similar age
The Russian doping scandal has exposed the weaknesses in the international anti-doping structure
Sports organisations are bad at handling sexual abuse, and athletes risk retaliation for speaking out
CEO of USADA: "There is a lot we could do to ease the burden on the athletes"
US anti-doping director: There is an incredible need for an anti-crime agency in sport
In-play bets and live data collection make new sports vulnerable to match-fixing
Investigative journalists Grit Hartmann and Nick Harris receive the Play the Game Award 2024
The German Bundesliga cut its sustainability requirements by half from 2022 to 2023
Lessons from Qatar 2022: How activists should approach the 2034 World Cup in Saudi Arabia
The Global South could be the key to changing poor sports governance nationally and internationally
Investigative sports journalism is struggling on many fronts at the same time
