Schedule

GSUN’26 Summit 7-8 October 2026

Wednesday, 7 October  

6:00–8:00

Early Morning Activities - Swimming, Running, Yoga

7:30–8:30

Registration, Coffee & Chat

8:30–9:15

Welcome and Opening

9:15–10:15 PLENARY SESSION

Plenary Session

Is Academic Freedom Still a Thing?  Contemporary Research Between the Pursuit of Knowledge and the Pressures of Public and Political Discourse

10:15–10:45

Coffee & Chat

10:45-11:45 SESSION 1

Session 1.1 - Panel

Through UNESCO and Beyond: Bridging the Research-Policy Gap in Global Sports

Session 1.2 - Workshop

Play to Change: Sport as a Catalyst for Climate Action

Session 1.3 - Panel

The Importance and Future of Scientific Journals in Sport and Exercise Science

Session 1.4 - Panel

Driving Real Impact: Insights from a Global Program for Female Future Leaders in Football

Activity Options

Campus Tour, Lab Tour - Institute of Biomechanics, or Lab Tour - Institute of Molecular and Cellular Sports Medicine

11:45–12:15

Coffee & Chat

12:15-13:15 SESSION 2

Session 2.1 - Panel

Collaborative Innovation in Anti-Doping Across Universities, Accredited Laboratories, and NADOs

Session 2.2 - Panel

Visual Analytics to Empower Performance and Decision Making in Global Sport

Session 2.3 - Workshop

Rethinking Community Sport Governance

Session 2.4 - Panel

Athlete Rights in Global Sport: Comparing Governance Models and their Consequences

13:15–14:30

Activities (Trampoline, Stress Test, Wheelchair - Handling and Basketball)

13:15–15:00

Lunch

15:00-16:00 SESSION 3

Session 3.1 - Panel

From Abuse to Action: Addressing Online Hate in Sports

Session 3.2 - Panel

From Evidence to Impact: Translating Research and Education into Practice in Sport and Health Systems

Session 3.3 - Panel

Heat Stress in Para Athletes: Science, Clinical Practice, and Communication at Major Events

Session 3.4 - Workshop

Advancing Athlete Rights Across the Globe

Activity Options

Campus Tour or Lab Tour - Science and Swimming

16:00–16:15

Coffee & Chat

16:15-17:15 SESSION 4

Session 4.1 - Panel

International Paralympic Committee Strategic Plan for Research in Para Sport

Session 4.2 - Panel

Building Global Sport Science and Sport Business Talent: Comparing Academic and Experimental Learning Models

Session 4.3 - Panel

Digital Doping: Online Ecosystems, Enhancement Culture, and the Future of Sport Integrity

Session 4.4 - Panel

Cancer and Exercise

17:30–17:45

Day One Closing Remarks

17:45–19:00

Meet & Greet

18:00–19:00

Stadium Tour - RheinEnergieStadium

19:00–23:00

Summit Dinner - 12. Mann at RheinEnergieStadium

Thursday, 8 October  

6:00–8:00

Early Morning Activities - Swimming, Running, Mobilisation

7:30–8:30

Registration, Coffee & Chat

8:30–8:45

Opening & Outlook

8:45–9:45 PLENARY SESSION

Plenary Session

Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance: Transforming Human Health through the Science of Peak Performance

9:45–10:15

Coffee & Chat

10:15-11:15 SESSION 5

Session 5.1 - Panel

Developing and Managing Collaborative Partnerships between Academia and Sportswear Industry


Session 5.2 - Panel

From Evidence to Scale: Building a Provincial Sport and Physical Activity Ecosystem in the Western Cape


Session 5.3 - Panel

Is Sport Science Entering a New Era of Visualisation?


Activity

Campus Tour

11:15–11:30

Coffee & Chat

11:30-12:30 SESSION 6

Session 6.1 - Panel

Wearable Technologies in Sport Science: Bridging Innovation, Research, and Practice

Session 6.2 - Panel

Multidisciplinary approach to translating molecular signatures of injury and repair to performance in humans

Session 6.3 - Panel

Barriers and Facilitators to Teaching and Research Integration of Academic Sport Disciplines with University Sport

13:00–14:00

Activities (Trampoline, Stress Test, Wheelchair - Handling and Basketball)

12:30–14:00

Lunch

14:00-15:00 SPOTLIGHT SESSION

Spotlight Session

Current Challenges and Opportunities in Translating Sport Science into Innovation and Entrepreneurship

15:00–15:15

Coffee & Chat

15:15-16:15 SESSION 7

Session 7.1 - Panel

Interpersonal Violence and Abuse in Sport –  Approaches for Transforming Sport into a Safe Environment

Session 7.2 - Panel

Wearables and Edge AI in Aquatic Sports: Translating EU-TRAINS Research into Practice for Swimmers

Session 7.3 - Panel

Sport Science Accreditation and Regulation: Hurdles and Horizons

Session 7.4 - Panel

Olympic Studies

Activity Options

Campus Tour, Lab Tour - Institute of Biomechanics, or Lab Tour - Institute of Biochemistry

16:15–16:45

Coffee & Chat

16:45-17:45 SESSION 8

Session 8.1 - Panel

Translating Para Sport Science into Elite Performance

Session 8.2 - Panel

Who Leads Sport? Introducing LEAD^Sport - The First Leadership Model Built for the Executives Who Run the Business in Sport

Session 8.3 - Panel

University Sport Science - Bringing more Physical Education into Society

Session 8.4 - Workshop

From Scholarship to Society: Advancing Societal Impact in Sport Academic Departments

17:45–18:15

Closing Remarks

18:15–19:00

Post Summit Drinks & Snacks

GSUN '26 Summit Sponsors