Officials from HBKU, UCLan Cyprus, Unesco regional offices, and the European Union’s Delegation Office during the event held to commence the joint-leadership of Unesco Chair on Governance and Social Responsibility in Sport. Pic by Rajan Vadakkemuriyil
Doha, Qatar: The joint leadership of Unesco Chair on Governance and Social Responsibility in Sport between Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU), a member of Qatar Foundation and University of Central Lancashire Cyprus (UCLan Cyprus) was commenced in Doha on Monday.
A responsibility shared by HBKU’s College of Science and Engineering (CSE) and UCLan Cyprus, the Chair will work to promote strong governance principles among organisations that use sport as an enabler for sustainable development while strengthening relations between the two institutions.
It is anticipated that joint-leadership will not only strengthen connections between HBKU and UCLan Cyprus, but also reinforce Qatar’s status as a global sports hub.Under this joint-leadership, Dr. Christos Anagnostopoulos, Assistant Professor, CSE, and Founder of the Chair, will continue to serve as its director and one of two co-chair holders.
The launch event was held in the presence of officials from HBKU, UCLan Cyprus, Unesco regional offices and the European Union’s Delegation Office in Doha.
The Unesco Chair can be a catalyst for positive change in the world of sports, fostering a culture of transparency, accountability, inclusiveness and respect, said Dr. Anagnostopoulos while speaking to The Peninsula.
“This Unesco Chair is the 7th out of 1003 that have been established across the globe that has sport as key component; so this joint-leadership status that HBKU has secured is, by itself, a remarkable achievement,” he said.
“We know well that Unesco seeks to promote the development and practice of sporting activities to foster social integration in different cultural and political contexts. However, the governance of sport organisations that have assumed the responsibility of carrying out these activities affect their inherent quality and impact on the final recipients, the end-beneficiaries - not only young men and women but also citizens of all ages. This is where this Unesco Chair is set to focus on by fostering an integrated system of research, education, and training to enhance the quality of governance practices within the sport industry and advocate socially responsible programme designs that prioritise sport as a core component,” he added.
Commenting on the significance of the joint Unesco leadership to Qatar, Dr. Anagnostopoulos said that it holds great significance for the future of sport in Qatar and in the wider region.
“Given that Qatar has now become a global sport hub with major sporting events lining up to become part of the country’s sport history (see, for example, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027, the 2030 Asian Games, etc.), we discussed the critical importance of effective governance and social responsibility in the world of sports. We delved into the challenges faced, explored innovative solutions and embraced the collective responsibility we all share in shaping the future of sports,” said Dr. Anagnostopoulos. The event also featured an expert panel discussion on governance and social responsibility.
“It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome the joint leadership status that has been agreed between UCLan Cyprus and the CSE, here at HBKU. This joint leadership status can be the vehicle that connects the two institutions and, crucially, serves as the common denominator towards strengthening links between research, teaching, and practice at national, regional and global levels,” said Professor and Rector of UCLan Cyprus, Dr. Irene Polycarpou.
