When heads of state sign peace agreements in Davos while simultaneously overseeing Olympic committees and shaping World Cup decisions, the idea of political neutrality in sport starts to look fragile 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/a-very-...
As international sports bodies move to reintegrate Russia, they once again stress the “neutrality” of sport.
@staniselsborg.bsky.social argues that this language obscures what has really been achieved by excluding Russia from the international sport’s scene 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/excludi...
India has bid to host the 2036 Olympics, while many athletes still train without access to basic facilities, and public investment remains limited.
✍️Cheena Kapoor highlights the contrast between India’s Olympic ambitions and the realities of sports 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/olympic...
“Not all bridges built for peace”
In 2024, 🇺🇦 athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych made a powerful speech at our @playthegame-org.bsky.social conference.
Now, Heraskevych is barred from competing with a helmet honouring 🇺🇦 athletes who lost their lives in Russia’s war.
Watch👉 vimeo.com/962035621?sh...
Private equity firms are increasingly investing in football clubs using the so-called Bermuda Triangle strategy, which could signal serious trouble ahead 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/investm...
The media’s simplistic framing "boycott – yes or no?" overlooks that the real story lies elsewhere – in power, governance, and accountability in international sport, argues @staniselsborg.bsky.social ⚠️
Read the commentary👇
www.playthegame.org/news/sports-...
In East India, a non-profit has used football to change the lives of hundreds of girls⚽
Drawn into the project by the opportunity to play football, the girls are given a proper education and valuable life skills, Ankita Anand reports👇
www.playthegame.org/news/footbal...
🔎When the Philippines hosted the 2025 FIVB Men’s World Championship, the event relied largely on public funding, writes Eric Dimzon
Almost 2 billion pesos ($33.5m) were released by the Philippine Sports Commission to the National Volleyball Federation👇
www.playthegame.org/news/the-hid...
As South African football struggles with unpaid players and collapsing development structures, this investigation explains the financial and governance failures that have led SAFA president Danny Jordaan to face a criminal trial 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/the-bro...
New year – new opportunities? ✨
We are looking for an editor and international relations manager to strengthen our journalism, expand our global network, and help shape the agenda in international sports politics 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/play-th...
The FIFA World Cup final draw in Washington, D.C., was staged as a celebration of football. However, it revealed more about the USA-FIFA relationship, tensions with Mexico, and Saudi influence on the sport, writes Mikkel Bruun Christensen 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/from-tr...
Unlicensed betting companies are using FIFA’s own streaming platform to offer in-play wagers on low-level matches worldwide. Many smaller federations are unaware their match data is exploited this way, write @stevemenary.bsky.social & @samindrakunti.bsky.social 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/fifa-li...
Speaking at #ptg2025, the deputy secretary general of the Council of Europe, Bjørn Berge, emphasised how the challenges facing sport mirror those across society, and why stronger frameworks are needed to safeguard athletes and uphold integrity 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/council...
Former Olympic race walker Sari Essayah's dual role in the Finnish government and the leadership of Olympic sport may become an integrity issue for the Finnish Centre for Integrity in Sports (FINCIS), said FINCIS chair Pia Ek at #ptg2025 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/finnish...
At #ptg2025, former cyclist Lizzy Banks and USADA’s Allison Wagner described how delays, inconsistencies, and power imbalances leave athletes feeling unprotected and in need of outside support to drive reform in the global anti-doping system 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/athlete...
In 1751, the Gin Act stopped targeting street corners and went straight for the big distilleries – and it worked! This lesson could inspire us to target the betting data providers to choke off the supply that fuels the flourishing illegal market 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/lessons...
Interview: Swiss governance expert Mark Pieth warns that FIFA’s internal democracy has deteriorated under Infantino and says he was astonished to see the 2034 World Cup handed to Saudi Arabia without meaningful criticism or debate 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/governa... #ptg2025
In Afghanistan, the Taliban has forced women’s sport underground⚠️
However, the GOAL programme spearheaded by Olympian Friba Rezayee from Afghanistan is challenging that 💪
Read or watch her full speech from #ptg2025👇
www.playthegame.org/news/afghan-...
Why are African national teams increasingly filled with Europe-born players, and how is this linked to the continent’s stadium boom? ⚽🤔
Steffany Nde examines what drives these trends👇
www.playthegame.org/news/behind-...
At #ptg2025, key voices called for new leadership, transparency, and renewed dialogue in global anti-doping. USADA says repeated meeting requests to WADA’s leadership were declined.
Read the article and the full speech by Travis Tygart 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/politic...
🗨️As the EU drafts a new vision for sport, voices at the MOVE Congress in Copenhagen warned that policy ideals and everyday participation are worlds apart.
Read the article 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/experts...
On the last day of #ptg2025, the Play the Game Award was awarded to two courageous whistleblowers in sport:
Maggie Nichols and Abdullah Ibhais👇
www.playthegame.org/news/whistle...
More articles from #ptg2025 are now live❗
If you’ve missed parts of the conference or want to dive deeper into the key discussions, our talented journalists
@karimzidan.com, Steve Menary, and Lars Jørgensen have you covered👇
www.playthegame.org/news/
Read the article 'Sports Interest Group Calls On UEFA, IOC To Help Belarusian Dissident' by John Affleck in @forbes.com 👇
www.forbes.com/sites/johnaf... #ptg2025
Another inspiring day filled with sharp insights, open debates, and challenging questions about the future of sport at #ptg2025
Photographer Thomas Søndergaard captured the atmosphere and energy across the many sessions throughout day 3 📸
👇
www.flickr.com/photos/play_...
DAY 4! 💥 We’re live!
It’s the final day of the conference - but we still have a full and exciting programme ahead!
www.playthegame.org/conferences/...
#ptg2025
Recognising survivor-led progress, Kat Craig insisted in her speech at #ptg2025 that the next steps in making sport safer should be rebuilding trust through openness, empathy, and a showdown with the concept of sport's autonomy.
Her full speech 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/survivo...
In my speech at @playthegame-org.bsky.social 2025 in Finland, I delved into Donald Trump’s bond with the UFC and reveal the cast of power players shaping his sports agenda.
You can reach the speech and watch the entire session here: www.sportspolitika.news/p/speech-tru...
At 16:30 UTC+3, Carine Kanimba from the World Liberty Congress will join the session “Football’s Geopolitical Game: Are We Heading Towards a New World Order?”📢
She will present “Rwanda: Football and Repression” ⚽
Watch live🖥️👇 #ptg2025
www.playthegame.org/conferences/...
#ptg2025 is already in full swing, with engaging debates and inspiring speakers sharing insights on some of the most pressing issues in sport and society
Take a look at the moments we’ve captured so far from the first two days 👇
www.flickr.com/photos/play_...
📸: Thomas Søndergaard
