SPORT 2020 : Sport and the Power to Inspire Change: A Global Virtual Symposium

The symposium is structured to create inclusive spaces where four key or ‘hot’ themes can be explored.

Theme 1: Paralympism and Personal Growth
led by Danny Crates

Danny won gold in the men’s 800m at the 2004 Paralympic Games in Athens and is now an established personal performance coach, as well as a global Keynote speaker, published author and TV presenter and pundit. He brings a wealth of knowledge and understanding around building high-performance teams and individuals. He has over 20 years experience speaking to businesses around the world on the key elements to success, combined with 12 years as an international athlete, training with – and most importantly, learning from – some of the best athletes and coaches in the world. Danny talks about overcoming hurdles, resilience, performing under pressure, dealing with setbacks, goal setting, incremental gain, stepping outside of your comfort zone, and so much more.

Theme 2: Education and Learning
led by Derek Peaple

Derek was recently shortlisted as TES Headteacher of the Year and praised by Ofsted for his ‘values-driven’ approach to 25 years of school leadership. This hot seat session will aim to explore how sport, and its associated values, has provided an interdisciplinary framework for the development of whole school culture and ethos. As a corollary, it will consider how this approach has shaped curriculum innovation and enrichment, personal development and student leadership and range of international learning partnerships.

Theme 3: Leadership and High Performance
led by Phil Davies

Phil is widely recognised as a world class rugby player and leader with a career spanning over 35 years and whose actions build high performance systems incorporating change and progression in the complex environment of professional Rugby Union. This session will discuss leadership and high performance through the elite sport of professional Rugby union, how Process and Passion underpinned by a philosophy of people centred, development-driven and competition supported system help teams achieve their goals. This approach provides an aspirational direction, inspirational actions along the journey to achieve the team’s purpose, vision, and values that drive the plan set out by all the key people involved.

Theme 4: Fans and Fan Culture
led by Karl Spracklen

Karl has held senior officer positions within the Leisure Studies Association, and was its Chair until 2013. He is closely involved in the International Sociological Associations’s Research Committee 13 (Leisure). This session will explore how being a sport fan creates community and identity, but that community and identity can be problematic when it harms the self and our social relations. Karl will draw on his own fandom and academic debates to sketch the potentiality.