The CEO‑UAB was established with the aim of conducting research, documentation, education, and the dissemination of information related to Olympism and sport.
The Olympic Studies Centre of the UAB has promoted and participated as a key partner in research, education, and knowledge‑transfer projects.
Learn more about our main activities since our founding in 1989.
Research
Research projects cover a wide range of areas related to sport and the Olympic Games, particularly from the perspective of the social sciences.
The Centre’s main long‑term research lines focus on communication, sport and the Olympic Games; the impact and legacy of the Olympic Games, with particular attention to Barcelona ’92; and the role of sport in society.
Consultancy
The CEO‑UAB team has provided consultancy services to various stakeholders involved in the preparation of the Olympic Games and other major sporting events. These activities have included contributions to the design of Barcelona’s sport policy, the development of the IOC’s academic strategy, and the design of exhibition content for the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.
Support for PhD Students
The CEO‑UAB runs a dedicated programme to support doctoral students in the field of Olympic studies. The programme is open to all PhD students who have officially registered their research work in a UAB department.
Research Fellowships
The CEO‑UAB offers researchers the opportunity to undertake research stays at the UAB, either through inter‑university cooperation programmes or at the request of interested scholars.
Networking
The CEO‑UAB has developed a strong networking activity. It has been a partner in two Leonardo da Vinci projects funded by the European Union, as well as in several international projects, most of them in collaboration with universities located in cities that have hosted the Olympic Games.
Education
The CEO‑UAB has organized a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate activities in the fields of sport and Olympism. These activities include an undergraduate course related to sport and the Olympic Games, training programmes for sport managers, university seminars delivered by visiting professors of the International Chair in Olympism (IOC‑UAB), as well as outreach seminars on the legacy of the Barcelona ’92 Olympic Games. In addition, the CEO‑UAB promotes a training programme aimed at hosting students undertaking internships.
Master’s Degree in Olympic Studies and MOOC the Olympic Games and the Media
The CEO‑UAB has acted as a promoter or partner in several international postgraduate education initiatives. It coordinates the module on marketing and communication of the Olympic Games within the Master’s Degree in Olympic Studies and leads the MOOC The Olympic Games and the Media, offered through the Coursera platform.
Academic Outreach and Publications
The CEO‑UAB organizes academic outreach activities at both regional and international levels, addressing a wide range of aspects related to sport and the Olympic phenomenon. It has collaborated with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the organization of academic symposia and conferences on topics such as Olympic Ceremonies (1995), Olympic Villages (1996), Television (1998), Sport for All (1998), Volunteers (1999), and the Legacy of the Olympic Games (2002).
In addition, the CEO‑UAB has edited an extensive range of publications, including academic books, conference proceedings, research findings, and other types of specialized documents.
International Chair in Olympism (IOC-UAB)
The CEO‑UAB directs the International Chair in Olympism (IOC‑UAB), a programme designed to engage internationally renowned experts in the social sciences and humanities by inviting them to serve as visiting professors. These scholars contribute to the development of specific research lines and to the scientific dissemination of particular aspects of the Olympic phenomenon. Since 1995, the Chair has involved 17 associate professors.
Information
The CEO‑UAB holds a specialized research collection on Olympism and preserves part of the archive of the Barcelona ’92 Olympic Games. In addition, it provides tailored services to academics, students, and professionals conducting research in the fields of the Olympic Games and sport.
Since 1995, the CEO‑UAB has promoted, developed, and managed the first Internet portal dedicated to Olympic studies, and oversees its presence on social media platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
As a key partner, the CEO‑UAB has also acted as a promoter of projects aimed at developing information systems on sport and the Olympic Games, such as:
- Impact of Sporting Events in Barcelona: Barcelona Olímpica,
- Catalan Sports Observatory
- Olympic Studies Network
- Olympic Values Education Programme (OVEP).
