Ethics in Sports. Discover the 4th session of the MESGO that took place in Mainz and Frankfurt

MESGO VIII, News

Between March 24 and 28, 2025, the MESGO VIII participants attended Session 4 of the programme in Germany (Mainz and Frankfurt). It was led by Holger Preuss (professor) and Mathias Schubert (senior researcher) from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz.

Holger Preuss, session director.

Mathias Schubert, session director.

The session explored a range of ethical and integrity challenges within the sports movement, evaluated the political and commercial repercussions of failing to address these issues, and highlighted policy measures that can effectively tackle them.

Special attention was given to internationally coordinated approaches, taking into account, amongst other things, the following issues:

  • Basics of ethical decision-making in sport
  • Ethical leadership in sport
  • Safeguarding and abuse in sports
  • Diversity and anti-discrimination in sport as well as policies to address this
  • Inclusion of disabled people in sport
  • Sustainability and climate change
  • The social responsibility of sport and its various facets
  • Human Rights and sport

Participants had the opportunity to reflect collectively in some depth on the different topics through work exercises but also by interacting with a large panel of experts in their field. A heartfelt thank you to all the speakers for their valuable and insightful contributions to the session!

At the Johannes Gutenberg University: Presentation about Ethics and Integrity in Sport by Mike McNamee, Professor, KU Leuven & Swansea University.

At the Johannes Gutenberg University: Presentation about Monitoring Ethics and Integrity in Practice: The Example of the Biathlon Integrity Unit (BIU) by Greg McKenna, Head, Biathlon Integrity Unit.

At the German Football Association (DFB): Presentation about Safeguarding and Abuse in Sport by Giulia Pairone, former professional tennis player, survivor of violence in sport and Tine Vertommen, Researcher, Thomas More University Antwerp and Expert Consultant to the Safe Sport Unit of the IOC.

At the German Football Association (DFB): Presentation about The Sports Good Governance Game – Inspire Sport Managers to Become Ethical Leaders: Introduction & Playing the Game by Abigail Levrau, Professor, Ghent University and Mathieu Marlier, Professor, Lunex University, Luxemburg.

At the German Football Association (DFB): Presentation about Touching the Untouchable Autonomy of Sport: Impulse & Debat by Jens Sejer Andersen, founder and senior advisor, Play the Game.

At the Mewa Arena: Presentation about Diversity in Sports: A Practical Perspective by Annamarie Phelps, Chair, EOC Gender Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Commission, European Olympic Committees.

At the Mewa Arena: Presentation about Governance Issues in World Para Sports/Disability Sports by Sergey Lyzhin, APSO Honorary Secretary General/ASOIF Manager.

At the Mewa Arena: Presentation about Gender issues in Sports: The Way Forward? by Anne Jakob, lawyer and professor.

At Burg Reichenstein (Castle): Round-table discussion about Environmental and Social Sustainability and Sport Ethics with Charles Steinmyller, Director of Education & Campaigns, Dona Bertarelli Philanthropy – Sports for Nature Partner, Holger Preuß, Professor, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Axel Caldas, Head of Project, Global Programme Sport for Development, German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) & Botsang Tshenyego, President, NOC Botswana, member ANOC sustainability commission (remote).

At Burg Reichenstein (Castle): Leadership Lab: The Paralympics Effect – Athletes as Role Models for Resilience by Matthias Berg, Paralympic medallist, Lawyer, Leadership coach.

At the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB): Round-table discussion about Sports and Human Rights with Holger Preuss, Professor, JGU, Magali Martowicz, Head of Human Rights, International Olympic Committee & Adam Pengilly, Former Skeleton racer and Former Member of the IOC.

Each session over the five days was hosted by a different academic or sporting institution: Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz; German Football Association (DFB); Mewa Arena (Mainz 05 Stadium); Burg Reichenstein (Castle); German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).

In terms of entertainment, participants had the opportunity to play football at the new DFB Campus, take part in indoor climbing and savour fantastic traditional German cuisine.

The next MESGO session is dedicated to “Events and Participation” and will take place in Spain (Barcelona) from 16-20 June 2025.

Xtra Time session in Dubai: The First MESGO & MIP Alumni Gathering

MESGO Alumni, News

The MESGO and MIP Alumni were in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from 23 to 26 February for the first Xtra Time session focusing on sport in the Gulf region. The session was organised by the MESGO and MIP Alumni Association, the UEFA Academy and CDES Limoges, and led by Joël Pinson, UEFA Academy Programme & Management Expert at UEFA.

Kevin Ashby, President, MESGO Alumni Association (MESGO IV alumnus), Joël Pinson, UEFA Academy Programme & Management Expert and Ciska Du Plessis Austin (MESGO V Alumnus).

In this session, participants explored a range of key issues shaping the sporting landscape in the Gulf region:

  1. Geopolitical Dynamics in Sport: We discussed the role of political and economic factors influencing the development of sport in the region and how these dynamics are shaping both local and international perceptions.
  2. Football Ecosystem & Strategic Initiatives: The conversation included a deep dive into the football ecosystem, focusing on strategic plans and initiatives being rolled out ahead of the 2034 FIFA World Cup. We examined how these efforts are positioning the Gulf region for long-term success in global football.
  3. Sports Development: Key areas of sports development were addressed, with a particular focus on the region’s infrastructure, the creation of talent pathways and the significant investments being made to support the growth of various sporting disciplines.
  4. Integrating Women’s Sport: We explored the challenges and opportunities surrounding the integration of women’s sport into the wider sporting context. The discussion highlighted ongoing efforts to bridge the gender gap and the evolving landscape for female athletes in the region.
  5. Event Hosting Strategy in a Federal State: We explored the complexities of event-hosting strategies within a federal state framework, looking at how coordination between regions and national authorities impacts the ability to successfully host international sporting events.
  6. The future of sports governance and sustainability: The session concluded with reflections on the future of sports governance, emphasising the need for sustainability in an era of rapid change. We discussed the importance of adaptive governance structures to meet the demands of a constantly evolving global sports environment.

We would like to thank all the speakers whose contributions made this session a success. Having representatives from the UAE Football Association, Saudi 2034 bid, Saudi Pro League, Asian Football Confederation, Ethara, Portas Consulting, UAE Team ADQ and the International Cricket Council was a key component of this Xtra Time session and allowed for a strong interaction with the participants.

Many thanks to them for their availability and for sharing their experiences!

At the UAE FA: Welcome speech by Hamad Al Jneibi, Deputy General Secretary, UAE Football Association and MESGO VIII participant.

At the UAE FA: Presentation about the UAE Football’s Game Plan by Jan Van Winckel, Technical Director, UAE FA & Houriya Al-Taheri, Former National Team Player and U19 Women National Team Head Coach.

At the UAE FA: Presentation by Karim Mohamed, Head of Systems and AI section & Tariq Al Sherif, Finance Director, UAE Football Association.

At the UAE FA: Presentation about the AFC, Saudi Arabia and the 2034 FIFA World Cup: From Asia to the World by Andrew Mercer, General Counsel & Director of Legal Affairs, Asian Football Confederation (MESGO IV Alumnus).

At the UAE FA: Presentation about the AFC, Saudi Arabia and the 2034 FIFA World Cup: From Asia to the World by Ahmed Alosaymi, Legal director, Saudi 2034 bid & Chief Legal Officer, Asian Cup 2027.

At the UAE FA: Presentation about the Saudi Pro League: A strategic approach by Peter Hutton, Board member, Saudi Pro League.

At the UAE FA: Presentation about The Gulf’s Sporting Boom: Trends, Tactics, and Triumphs by Ali Abbas and Mohamed Berrada, Partners, Portas Consulting.

At Yas Marina Circuit: Presentation about Speed, Strategy, and Spectacle: The Yas Marina Circuit
by Michael Golding, Marketing & Communications Executive Director, Ethara.

At Yas Marina Circuit: Presentation about the Women’s Sport Participation in the Gulf by Petra Santini, Associate Partner, Portas Consulting.

At Yas Marina Circuit: Presentation about Cycling as a Strategic Initiative by Paola Acosta, Head of Marketing, Aurora Group & Head of Marketing department, UAE Team ADQ & Melissa Moncada, President and Head of the Team, UAE ADQ.

At the International Cricket Council: Presentation about Exploring cricket’s governance challenges, diverse formats, and the path to the LA28 Olympics by Jonathan Hall, General Counsel and Company Secretary, International Cricket Council (MESGO III alumnus).

At the International Cricket Council: Presentation about the ICC development programmes and their strategic impact by Will Glenwright, Head of Global Development & Abhishek Shekhawat, Participation Programmes Manager, International Cricket Council.

The MESGO & MIP Alumni at the International Cricket Council.

A massive thank you to all the MESGO & MIP Alumni who attended the session and we look forward to seeing you all again soon.

The third MESGO VIII session took place in Brussels

MESGO VIII, News

The MESGO VIII participants were in Brussels from 20 to 24 January for their third session, which focused on the legal frameworks in European sport. Co-directed by both Nathalie Alaphilippe and Jean-Christophe Breillat, lawyers at CDES.

At VUB University: Jean-Christophe Breillat and Nathalie Alaphilippe, lawyers and session directors, CDES.

After two introductory presentations on the concept of Lex Sportiva and the basics of Swiss law applicable to non-profit organisations, the session looked at the external management of legal disputes and the specific features of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in sport, particularly the role of the Court of Arbitration for Sport but also other arbitration systems.

At the RSC Anderlecht’s Constant Vanden Stock Stadium: Presentation about the diversity of sources of international sports law by Franck Latty, professor of international law, University of Paris Nanterre and CAS arbitrator.

At the RSC Anderlecht’s Constant Vanden Stock Stadium: Presentation about the Basics of Swiss Law by Michele Bernasconi, Attorney-at-law, Bär & Karrer AG.

At the RSC Anderlecht’s Constant Vanden Stock Stadium: Round-table discussion about arbitration in Sport – pros and cons. Is CAS the only remedy? with Rui Botica Santos, , Attorney-at-law, Lévy Kaufmann-Kohler, Kylie Brackenridge, Head of Case Management, Sport Resolutions and Antonio Rigozzi, Attorney-at-law, Lévy Kaufmann-Kohler.

We then moved on to in-house legal management within sports organisations, by addressing the question of disciplinary proceedings and legal strategy. The issue of the fight against doping was also addressed, highlighting the global approach on which it is based and questioning the possibility of duplicating this model to other sectors (match fixing, abuses in sport…).

At the Royal Belgian Football Association: Welcome speech by Peter Willems, CEO, Royal Belgian Football Association.

At the Royal Belgian Football Association: Presentation about the management of a legal department: from legal strategy to risk management by Efraim Barak, Founder of Efraim Barak, Sport Law and Consultancy.

At the Royal Belgian Football Association: Workshop exercise about the disciplinary powers of sports organisations – the importance of sound proceedings by Loïc Alves, Senior Legal Counsel, FIFPRO and MESGO IV graduate.

At the Royal Belgian Football Association: Presentation of the judicial system of the FIA by Jean-Christophe Breillat, Head of Legal Affairs, CDES.

At the Royal Belgian Football Association: Workshop about the management of doping cases – A practical approach by Ulrich Haas, Professor, Zürich University and CAS arbitrator.

Next we focused our attention on the European legal and political framework in which sports organisations operate, especially at how EU law has influenced the regulation of sport in recent decades and the impact it may have in the future, including a discussion of the sustainability of the European sport model, particularly in light of recent developments in breakaway competitions. Looking at the European legal framework of sport also provided an opportunity to present an overview of the European funding sources available for the sports sector. Finally, the issue of EU lobbying was tackled, in relation to both the sports sector and other industries.

At the Pro League Belgium HQ: Presentation of the fundamentals of EU law and sport by Michele Colucci, Member of the Ethics Unit, DG HR, European Commission.

At the European Parliament: Presentation of the case-study exercise about the Seraing case by Pauline Duboc, Lawyer, CDES.

At the European Parliament: Debate about the future of sport in Europe with Laura Vilches, Head of European Public Affairs, La Liga, Katarzyna Biniaszczyk, Parliamentary adviser and coordinator of the Sports Group in the European Parliament (MESGO V graduate), Benoït Keane, Solicitor, Keane Legal, Brussels, Alexander Bielefeld, Director Global Policy & Strategic Relations Men’s Football, FIFPRO and Matteo Zacchetti, Policy Officer, Sport Unit, DG EAC, European Commission.

At VUB University: Discussion on EU public affairs in sports & case study – the EU microplastics restriction with Agata Dziarnowska, Member of the Cabinet of Commissioner Micallef, European Commission, James Ogilvie, Head of EU & Governmental Affairs, UEFA and Teodora Pletosu, EU Affairs and Public Projects Specialist, UEFA.

A huge thank you goes to the RSC Anderlecht’s Constant Vanden Stock Stadium, Royal Belgian Football Association, the Belgian Jupiler Pro League, the European Parliament and the VUB University for their warm welcome.

As usual, MESGO sessions include team-building exercises and social events during the week, and this one was no exception, as we organised an evening out at a traditional Brussels restaurant and two sports activities (Padel and a session at the gym).

The next session, dedicated to Ethics and Integrity, will be held in Mainz and Frankfurt from 24 to 28 March 2025.

Second MESGO session held in Paris

MESGO VIII, News

From 25 to 29 November, MESGO VIII participants were in Paris for the second session of the programme dedicated to competition design and regulation.

Organised by Sean Hamil, Director of the Birkbeck Sport Business Centre, this second session focused on illustrating the range of contrasting competition designs and regulatory systems employed by different sports for successful competitions, outlining their respective strengths and weaknesses in the context of sport’s particular economic framework.

Topics covered in this session included the specific tool of financial sustainability systems, the arrival of private investment funds and the regulatory framework for professional player labour markets. The application of regulatory systems in sport was also illustrated with case studies from major sports competitions, such as the UEFA Champions League in football.

We would like to thank all the speakers whose contributions made this session a success. Having representatives from UEFA, FIA, LNR, French Tennis Federation, FFF, FIBA Africa as well as Paris2024 was a key component of the week and allowed for a strong interaction with the MESGO participants.

It was also an opportunity for participants to meet, listen and discuss with other high-level speakers and MESGO alumni: Eric Ropert (Managing Director, French Ice Hockey Federation – MESGO VI graduate), Fabrice Jouhaud (Director General, Ligue Nationale de Basket, LNB – MESGO I graduate) and Dennis Gudasic (CEO, Lokomotiva Zagreb – MESGO IV graduate).

Many thanks to them for their availability and for sharing their experiences with the MESGO participants!

At the FIA: Presentation of the financial regulatory regime of Formula 1 by Federico Lodi, Head of Financial Regulations, FIA.

At Roland Garros: An introduction to the design, organisation, governance, and regulation of sports competitions by Tim Pawlowski, professor of sport economics, University of Tübingen.

At Roland Garros: Presentation of the organisation of the WTA women’s tour by Nathalie Dechy, Roland Garros organisation committee and former tennis player, French Tennis Federation.

At Roland Garros: Presentation about the Basketball Africa League case study by Ambrose Tashobya, President of Youth and 3X3 Council, FIBA Africa and BAL Expert.

At the French Olympic Committee: Presentation about the background to the FIFA reforms of the international football player transfer market by Omar Ongaro, Expert technical advisor football regulatory, CAS arbitrator.

At the French Olympic Committee: Presentation about the possible impact of the Diarra case and the operation of the international football player transfer market from the player union point of view by Pieter Paepe, Lawyer, Brussels Bar and Founding Partner, EDSON (on behalf of FIFpro).

At the French Olympic Committee: Presentation about the English Football Regulator debate by Matt Slater, Senior football news reporter, The Athletic.

At the French Olympic Committee: Presentation about Paris 2024 – Looking Back by Etienne Thobois, Chief Executive Officer, Paris 2024.

At the LNR: Presentation about the LNR leagues’ organisation with specific reference to the role of the salary cap by Rémi Pallincourt, General Secretary, Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR).

At the LNR: Presentation about the developing club ownership landscape in European football – an overview of ownership investment models by Grégoire Nalet, Strategic Projects Manager, UEFA.

At the French Football Federation: Round-table discussion about the future of sport industry competitions in an age of disruption with Eric Ropert, Managing Director, French Ice Hockey Federation, Fabrice Jouhaud, Director General, Ligue Nationale de Basket, LNB and Camille Delzant, Legal Director, Women’s Professional Football, French Football Federation.

A huge thank you goes to the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Roland Garros, the French Olympic Committee (CNOSF), the Ligue Nationale de Rugby (LNR) and the French Football Federation (FFF) for their warm welcome.

During the week, participants had the opportunity to attend a EuroLeague Basketball game and experience the electric atmosphere at the Adidas Arena. They were also able to show off their talents in a friendly football match.

The third MESGO session will be held in Brussels from 20 to 24 January 2025 and will be dedicated to the legal framework of European sport.

Congratulations Aldi!

MESGO Alumni, MESGO VII, News

Aldi Topçiu, freshly graduated MESGO 7 participant, has been appointed Executive Director of the Football Association of Albania.

Aldi, who has been with the Albanian Football Association since January 2016 and previously held the position of Head of Legal Department, has been promoted to the role of Executive Director.

An experienced attorney at law, Aldi has been working in the legal industry for over 13 years, where he has acquired extensive knowledge in the fields of International Law, Sports Law, Legal Assistance, Arbitration, and Dispute Resolution.

Aldi has also enriched his professional profile by currently serving as an Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector for UEFA, as well as a UEFA Match Delegate.

On behalf of the entire MESGO community, we wish him the very best of success in his new role!

MESGO VII participants graduated at UEFA HQ!

MESGO Alumni, MESGO VII, News

Over two days, on the 3rd and 4th of October 2024, the 26 participants of the seventh edition of the Executive Master in Global Sport Governance (MESGO) defended their theses and received their certificates at the graduation ceremony held at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon.

The graduation ceremony was hosted by Sean Hamil, Director of the Birkbeck Sport Business Centre at the University of London. Also speaking at the ceremony were Nathalie Alaphilippe, lawyer at CDES and MESGO Programme Director, and Theodore Theodoridis, UEFA General Secretary. They expressed their gratitude to all the partners for their contribution to the MESGO programme and congratulated the participants on the successful completion of the 24-month course.

NYON, SWITZERLAND – OCTOBER 4: UEFA MESGO 2024 – Graduation Ceremonythe UEFA Headquarters, The House of the European Football, on October 4, 2024 in Nyon, Switzerland (Photo by Kristian Skeie – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images)

Congratulations to the new MESGO VII graduates: Artur Azaryan, Claire Bloomfield, Blaž Tomažin Bolcar, Robert Caldwell, Salvatore Civale, Pedro Daniel, Elvira Dushku Adnan Džemidžić, Anthony Ervin, Joao Fonseca, Paolo Ghiglione, Stefan Gunnarsson, Andreas Høj, Nikoloz Jgarkava, Andrew Lockwood, Andrea Marchetti, Erika Montemor Ferreira, Isabel Najera Rodriguez, David Pranger, Khais Rahmanie, Erik Stoffelshaus, Aldi Topçiu, Łukasz Wachowski, Rea Walshe, Patrick Montgomery Wolf, Sharon Zeevi.

MESGO 8th edition – Kicked off in Switzerland!

MESGO VIII, News,

The 32 MESGO participants, comprising 20 different nationalities, met in Switzerland last week. This first session was presented as an “Introduction to Global Sport Governance”.

The first session of this 8th edition of MESGO took place from the 30th of September to the 4th of October and was co-facilitated by Nathalie Alaphilippe, lawyer at CDES and MESGO programme director, and Jean-Philippe Bonardi, professor at HEC Lausanne. The topic of “Sport Governance” was discussed over the course of the week at the institutional, legal and economic levels and integrated into the social, technological and environmental contexts. Current challenges facing the sporting movement were also addressed and possible solutions were considered.

At FIBA: Nathalie Alaphilippe and Jean-Philippe Bonardi, session directors.

The MESGO VIII participants were hosted in various locations along the shores of Lake Geneva, which were the perfect venues to gain insights and first-hand experience of sports organisations and their governance models: The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the United Nations Office in Geneva and finally the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). 

The MESGO group at the United Nations – Geneva Office.

During this intense week, the participants had the occasion to discuss and debate with the leaders of MESGO’s sports partners:

  • Giorgio Marchetti (Deputy General Secretary, UEFA)
  • Andreas Zagklis (Secretary General, FIBA)
  • Martin Hausleitner (Secretary General, EHF)
  • Matti Nurminen (Secretary General, IIHF)
  • Sophie Kwasny (Executive Director, EPAS Council of Europe)

As well as having the opportunity to listen to and discuss with other high-level speakers and MESGO alumni:

  • Kenny Jean-Marie (Chief Members Associations Officer, FIFA – MESGO III graduate)
  • Piara Powar (Executive Director, Fare Network – MESGO III graduate)
  • Julien Zylberstein (Managing Director of European Affairs and Governance, UEFA – MESGO II graduate)

At the IOC: Presentation of the IOC strategy by Jacqueline Barrett, Director of Future Olympic Games Hosts, IOC.

At the IOC: Presentation about Sport transformation and new actors by Julien Hess, Director at UCI MTB World Championships Valais 2025) and Jean-Laurent Bourquin, CEO at AdviSPORT.

At the United Nations: Presentation and workshop about Geopolitics and sport by Kenny Jean-Marie, Chief Member Association Officer at FIFA and Carole Gomez, Associate Researcher at IRIS and graduate assistant in Sociology of Sport at the University of Lausanne.

At the United Nations: Presentation about the environmental challenges for the organisation of sports Events by Julia Schmale, assistant professor at the Extreme Environments Research Laboratory (EPFL).

At the United Nations: Presentation about the social challenges for the organisation of sports Events by David Cordobés, Senior Programme Manager (Youth and Sports) at International Trade Centre.

At the University of Lausanne: Round-table discussion about Board diversity in sports federations with Piara Powar, Executive Director at Fare Network, Françoise Emery, CEO at the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme and Laura McAllister, Vice President and Executive Committee member at UEFA.

At the University of Lausanne: Round-table discussion about implementing governance indicators with Jean-Lop Chappelet, Emeritus Professor of public management at IDHEAP, Marco Ienna, COO at World Baseball Softball Confederation and James Carr, Deputy Executive Director at ASOIF.

At FIBA: Case study discussion on FIBA vs Euroleague with Jaime-Albizu Lamboy-Riley, Head of Legal Affairs at FIBA and Julien Zylberstein, Managing Director of European Affairs and Governance at UEFA.

Many thanks to all speakers for their availability and for sharing their experiences with the MESGO participants!

MESGO sessions are also an excellent opportunity for participants to share special moments outside the classroom. This first session included several team-building activities, including a cooking class and wine tasting.

Next stop: Paris – 25-29 November 2024 – for the second session, dedicated to “Competition Design and Financial Sustainability”.

The Ninth and Final MESGO session in Silicon Valley.

MESGO VII, News, Non classé

The final session of the seventh edition of MESGO, dedicated to leadership and innovation, took place from 29 April to 2 May in Silicon Valley and San Francisco.

This session was led by Jean-Philippe Bonardi, Director of the Enterprise for Society Center and Full Professor at HEC Lausanne, University of Lausanne.

Jean-Philippe Bonardi, session director and Full Professor, HEC Lausanne.

Throughout the week, MESGO participants had the opportunity to attend the presentations at the following locations across Silicon Valley and San Francisco:

  • Plug and Play Tech Center
  • The Computer History Museum
  • Stanford University
  • Golden State Warriors – Chase Center

The session covered a wide range of topics related to innovation, leadership and sport. In particular, what creates an innovative ecosystem and its applicability to sport ecosystems; the current technology revolution and the opportunities created by technologies such as artificial intelligence, digital, metaverse, etc; how to develop an entrepreneurial and innovation mindset and how it is linked to leadership; how to manage innovation in an organisation.

A warm thank you to all the speakers for their high-quality contributions to the session!

At Plug and Play: Presentation about Disrupting Disruption by Pascal Finette, CEO, Be Radical.

At Plug and Play: Welcome speech by Saeed Amidi, CEO and Founder, Plug and Play.

At the Computer Museum: Presentation about How was the Silicon Valley eco-system built up? by Crystal Chang, Lecturer, University of California, Berkeley.

At the Computer Museum: Presentation about Silicon Valley: The view of a Venture Capitalist by Eric Buatois, General Partner, Benhamou Global Ventures.

At Stanford University: Presentation about Innovation start-ups – Large organisations versus start-ups by Sukemasa Kabayama, UPLIFT (and former manager at Apple and Tesla).

At Stanford University: Presentation about Developing an entrepreneurial mindset/Developing innovation beyond tech by Larry Keeley, Innovation Scientist, Keeley Innovations LLC & Former President and Co-Founder, Doblin Inc.

At the Golden State Warriors: Presentation about Golden State Warrior and the management of innovation by Daniel Brusilovsky, Vice President of Technology, Golden Gate Warriors.

At the Golden State Warriors: Presentation about Innovation mindset and purpose by Mike Geddes, Co-founder and Chief Purpose Officer, Oakland Roots.

Participants also enjoyed some fun social events, including a Guided Bike Tour of Silicon Valley and a Mixology Course.

The MESGO participants will meet again at the UEFA headquarters in Nyon on 3 and 4 October as part of the viva voce exam session, during which they will each defend their professional thesis. The graduation ceremony on Friday 4 October will mark the conclusion of the seventh edition of the programme.

Session 8 in New York – North American Model of Sport

Non classé

After six sessions in Europe and one in Asia, the MESGO team made their way to New York from 23 to 26 April 2024 to learn more about the North American sports model.

Co-directed by Francesc Solanellas, Professor of Sports Management at the National Institute of Physical Education (INEFC) and Jean-François Brocard, Associate Professor and Economist at the Centre for Law and Economics of Sport (CDES), this eighth session aimed to present the organisation of sport in North America from a legal, economic and sociological perspective.

Francesc Solanellas, session co-director and Professor of Sports Management, INEFC.

Jean-François Brocard, session co-director and Associate Professor and Economist, CDES Limoges.

During the four-day session, the MESGO group was hosted at key locations such as Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Basketball Association (NBA), St John’s University and Major League Baseball.

The participants had the opportunity to discuss with distinguished speakers the unique characteristics of the American sport system, such as salary caps, the draft and revenue-sharing systems, as well as the organisation and importance of North American college sports.

At the MLS: Presentation about Ethics and Values in Sports – Some Case Studies from the Soccer World & Elsewhere by Sunil Gulati (former President, U.S. Soccer Federation).

At the MLS: Presentation of the NWSL by Tatjana Heanni (Chief Sporting Director, National Women’s Soccer League).

At the NBA: Presentation about the main regulatory mechanisms – finances, labour market by Matt Doria (Vice President of Salary Cap Management, NBA) and Alex Roth (Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of League Governance and Policy, NBA).

At NBA: Presentation about promotion of gender equality & fight against discrimination in American sport by Ashleigh Huffman (VP of Global Engagement, Institute for Sport & Social Justice and former Chief of Sports Diplomacy, U.S. Department of State).

At St John’s University: Presentation about College sport by David P. Hedlund (Ph.D., Professor and Chaiperson, Division of Sport Management, Collins College of Professional Studies, St John’s University).

At St John’s University: Round table discussion about Sports Agents and Labour Markets with Matteo Zuretti (Chief International Relations and Marketing, NBPA) and Rizvan Magomedov (President of Dominance, MMA).

At MLB: Welcome speech by Patrick Houlihan (Executive Vice President, Labor Relations, MLB).

At MLB: An overview of Baseball’s Minor League Organization by Allison Creekmore (Vice President, Minor League Baseball Business Operations, MLB) and Mike LaCassa (Senior Director, Player Development, MLB).

On the Wednesday evening, participants had the privilege to experience a beautiful New York City sunset and illuminated cityscape during a dinner cruise.


The next and final MESGO VII session will take place in Silicon Valley from 29 April to 2 May and will focus on leadership and innovation.

Congratulations Jernej!

MESGO Alumni, MESGO VI, News

MESGO VI graduate Jernej Smisl has been appointed Managing Director of PRISTOP, the leading communications and consulting agency in Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana.

Jernej, who has been with PRISTOP since October 2022 and previously held the position of Director of Corporate Consulting, has been promoted to the role of Managing Director. With a broad range of skills including public relations, market research, marketing communications, marketing strategy, brand management and more, he has made and continues to make a significant contribution to the corporate industry, in advising and guiding companies in their strategic planning and marketing initiatives.

In addition to his role at Pristop, he has held esteemed positions that have further enriched his professional profile, including serving as the former President of HC Celje Pivovarna Laško, a renowned handball team and former EHF Velux Champions League winner.

On behalf of the entire MESGO community, we wish him the very best of success in his new role!