Welcome to the research hub of the Centre for Sport, Business and Society at UTS. Here, we embark on a quest to understand and enhance the world of sports through rigorous academic and applied research. Our commitment lies in addressing the critical challenges and seizing opportunities within the sports sector, from grassroots initiatives to global competitions.

By integrating the expertise of UTS Business School and the Institute for Public Policy and Governance, our research not only contributes to academic knowledge but also provides practical, actionable insights for the betterment of sports organisations, participants, and the broader community.

Our research projects

Team Up strategic research partnership on sport-for-development in the Pacific

CSBS has entered a strategic partnership with Team Up to conduct longitudinal studies on the impact of the Australian Government’s investment in sport-for-development in the Pacific region, with a focus on gender equity, social inclusion, and sport partnerships.

  • Industry partner (funding body): GHD
  • Project duration: 2023 to 2025

Evaluation of female-friendly community sport facilities and lighting upgrades grant program

CSBS is conducting an evaluation of the impact of a grant program intended to increase the participation of women and girls in sport in NSW through the supply of female-friendly facilities. The project will also examine the physical design of facilities for accessibility and environmental sustainability.

  • Industry partner (funding body): NSW Office of Sport
  • Project duration: 2023 to 2025

Move Now. Move 365: Assessing the impact sport participation can have on young people’s lives in response to new global challenges

CSBS has been producing a series of knowledge products that examine the importance for the next generation to ‘move now’ in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and new challenges being faced by young people across the globe.

  • Industry partner (funding body): International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Allianz
  • Project duration: 2023         

The Value of Sport Report

CSBS was commissioned to review the economic, social and health impacts of sport and active recreation on a local government area level. The monetised impacts included the reduction in chronic disease, productivity improvements, mental health impacts, impacts on youth crime, and educational impacts amongst others.

  • Industry partner (funding body): NSW Office of Sport
  • Project duration: 2022

Australian Centre for Olympic Studies (ACOS)

CSBS incorporates the functions of the UTS-based Australian Centre for Olympic Studies (ACOS).

ACOS is an accredited member of an international network of university-based Olympic Studies and Research Centres established by the International Olympic Committee, whose purpose is to undertake and promote teaching, research, publications and conferences that support the goals and impact of the Olympic Movement and Games.

UTS has established a global reputation for Olympic studies through teaching, research and community service. As such, UTS is ideally placed to examine and publicise Olympic studies in their broadest sense: to consider issues relating to the Olympic Games; to research the Paralympic Games and other major sporting events; and to focus on ‘sport for all’ which is advocated by the Olympic movement.

ACOS was launched in 2005 by AOC member Helen Brownlee to provide a national focus for Olympic studies in Australia. At the same ceremony, the Olympic Studies Room in the UTS Library was opened – it provides a large archive of official reports, bid documents, books, photo and video material to Olympic scholars, visiting fellows and PhD students.

Research spotlight on sport for public good

Thumbnail image for the video 'Harnessing the transformational potential of sport to maximise business and community outcomes'.

Harnessing the transformational potential of sport to maximise business and community outcomes

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Harnessing the transformational potential of sport to maximise business and community outcomes transcript

The research that we're conducting, focusses on sport for development programs that aim to make a difference for disadvantaged communities and use sport as a vehicle for development.

That development can be in different forms. So we have sport to achieve educational outcomes; have sport for physical wellbeing; but also sport for social wellbeing and togetherness between communities – where sport is used, for example, in conflict settings where it's often one of the few things that can bring communities together.

One key project that we completed with the New South Wales Office of Sport was to look at the value of sport for the state. And when people think about sport, it may be the economics that goes with it, the physical aspect, but there's also a significant social value of sport. And we're trying to estimate the value of sport for people in their communities so that policy makers can make decisions to implement sport where it's needed, and to support different areas of sport, for example, for disadvantaged communities or for women who are struggling with the infrastructure around sport.

Once we estimate the value of sport, we can then also decide where to put resources and assist policymakers in making good decisions. Elite sport and professional development are critical from a management perspective that they are governed well and that they operated well and that they achieve their business outcomes.

But certainly, my passion and my focus in the research work has been more on the community sport, sport for groups that really struggle, where sport can make a difference in ways that other mediums perhaps can't. Sport has a way to connect people. It has a way to allow disadvantaged groups and struggling groups to come together and benefit. So using sport not just for professional outputs, but really as a grassroots development space where we can benefit the community and make a positive difference, that's what we're about and that's how we want to be seen too.

Publications

Books and edited volumes by members of CSBS

Contact us

Get in touch with us at csbs@uts.edu.au to talk about our goals and research, partnering with us, and opportunities for collaboration.