CSL and SACOSSI continue their research in the field of sport, social impact and sport development
The Centre for Sport Leadership (CSL) and the newly formed South African Centre for Olympic Studies and Social Impact (SACOSSI) at Maties Sport have continued their research outputs at the 13th African Games that took place earlier this year. The focus of the research conducted was life after sport and anti-doping, both of which are important topics within the sport industry currently. Read more in-depth details on the research done below:
The Centre for Sport Leadership and SACOSSI doing research at 2024 Africa Games – Life After Sport
With the momentum of research conducted at the Netball World Cup in 2023, the Centre for Sport Leadership and SACOSSI combined efforts and developed a proposal for investigating Life After Sport at the 13th African Games in Ghana (8-23 March 2024). In collaboration with colleagues at the University of Ghana (UG) – Dr Bella Bello Bitugu and Dr Austin Luguterah, the two centres gained ethical clearance and elicited the collaboration of these two local academics and seven students from the University of Ghana’s Department of Physical Education and Sports Studies to assist with the logistics and data collection.
Dr Nana Adom-Aboagye and Professor Cora Burnett travelled to Ghana and spent the first day training the students to take on the task of having the questionnaires completed. They excelled and had over 800 questionnaires completed by athletes and team personnel from 41 African countries. These UG students worked relentlessly at training venues, in hostel rooms, in open areas and where-ever they could find athletes and coaches/administrators willing to take part in the research. Dr Adom-Aboagye and Professor Burnett conducted the interviews – also in all places and at all times, managing to conduct just over 50 in-person interviews with representatives from 14 African countries.
This is indeed a body of knowledge waiting to be unlocked and will make a significant difference in understanding the aspirations and long-term planning of African athletes that will inform different stakeholders, but particularly universities on how to respond with meaningful and impactful education and training courses and capacity building opportunities to harness the human potential of athletes to contribute to a specialised workforce in Africa. The intention is to adapt the methodology for research in regions of Africa, South Africa, and for current and future student-athletes in South Africa.
SACOSSI and UJ Centre for Olympic Studies Partner on – Anti-doping Education for African athletes at Africa Games
Olympic Studies Centres as a global movement are expected to collaborate and enrich their agendas by engaging in innovate and meaningful research. The 13th African Games in Ghana during March 2024 offered such an opportunity for SACOSSI and the UJ Centre for Olympic Studies to combine forces and conduct a study on anti-doping education for African athletes. Prof Cora Burnett and Prof Heather Morris-Eyton teamed up and conducted interviews during the games, as well as engaging students from the University of Ghana’s Department of Physical Education and Sports Studies to assist in the in-person completion of questionnaires. A world-renowned scholar, Andrea Petroczi who is most productive in this field and advisor to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) shared some of the latest methodologies. The latter was tested and are to be adapted for the African context.
SACOSSI has set its goals to continue working together with scholars in different fields to optimise the impact of research and benefit institutions, communities of practice and individuals on matters that matter.