Conference grants 

Play the Game offers a limited number of conference grants for media professionals from low-income countries and the Global South.

Thanks to generous support from the conference sponsors and donors, Play the Game has been able to offer a limited number of grants for full or partial funding of conference attendance and accommodation. 

Subsidies will primarily go to media professionals from low-income countries but people from other countries and walks of life such as academic researchers may also be considered for support. 

A conference grant consists of the full or partial financing of:

• Full conference package including lunch and dinner, social events, conference materials etc.
• Accommodation in two-bedded rooms at hotels or hostels within walking distance from the conference venue.

Grant holders cannot bring accompanying persons, and travel should be organised and paid for by applicants themselves. In exceptional cases, travel costs can be covered fully or partially, but applicants with the possibility of funding their own travel will have priority.

Play the Game is not able to take any responsibility whatsoever for injury or damage to persons or property during the conference. The organisers recommend that the participants insure themselves and their property for the duration of the conference.

Application procedures and application form

The secretariat of Play the Game will consider grant applications in due time before the event, taking into consideration one or more of the following criteria:

• That the applicant plays an active role in the sports debate in his or her home country and can prove a long-term interest in the conference themes
• That the applicant can add value to Play the Game’s agenda by reporting on conference issues to national media, by presenting papers during the conference, by taking part in panel discussions, by contributing to Play the Game’s own news production or in other ways
• That the applicant is able to cover her or his travel costs fully or partially. Applicants with the possibility of funding their own travel costs fully may get priority
• That the total selection of grant holders represents a mix of earlier participants and newcomers
• That a fair distribution of grants is achieved with respect to gender, age, geographical origin, function in the public sports debate etc.

Go to grant application

Visa procedures

If your application is approved, we will send you an official invitation.

Due to visa restrictions, we only issue invitation letters when each participant has presented convincing documentation that the conference is relevant for his or her professional or organisational activities.

Visa to Finland

You must start your visa application procedures at the relevant Finnish diplomatic representation without delay. If a visa application is submitted later than 15 August 2025, Play the Game reserves the right to cancel the grant.

Information about visa application to Finland

Documents and deadline

If you want to apply for a conference grant you must fill in the grant application. We also advise you to send the following documents (max 5 documents) to conference manager Maria Suurballe:

• Recommendations
• A resumé or copies of published articles or other relevant documentation of your contributions to the sports debate
• Convincing documentation that the conference is relevant for your professional or organisational activities.

Deadline for grant application and uploading of documents is 1 May 2025 15.00 CET.

Only applications following the described procedures will be taken into consideration.

For further information please contact:

Conference manager Maria Suurballe
maria@playthegame.org
mobile: +45 20 20 68 38

We are looking forward to receiving your application.