Sports Economics
The Sports Economics department focused on continuing professional development and consultancy services. The publication of the textbook entitled Sport Management in Europe was one of the year’s highlights.
Support for persons in the sports sector and publications
The Sports Systems Unit provided support to national and international players in the sports sector – including Swiss Olympic, the Swiss Alpine Club (SAC) and the City of Biel, as well as partners from the education sector such as the University of Applied Sciences of Graubünden (FH Graubünden) and the Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH). This involved a range of complex issues such as governance structures of sports systems, developing sports funding schemes, talent and youth development at performance sport centres, and managing elite sports organisations.
Academic papers provided significant impetus for the analysis and development of performance and elite sport systems, particularly with regard to governance of international sport systems, athletes’ use of social media, and international comparative studies. The publications also served as a reference for consultancy assignments, teaching materials and discussions with sports policy-makers.
Research publications
Nathalie Widmer
Analyse des valeurs dans les statuts des clubs sportifs: Le cas des clubs tessinois et vaudois, Management et Organisations du Sport, 15 décembre 2025, Vol. 7, 2025
Andreas Ch. Weber
Balancing Athlete Well-Being and Strategic Growth of the Olympic Games: Age Trends and the Evolution of Children-Athletes Winning Olympic Awards Between 1924 and 2024, Wiley Online Library
Specialist consultations on Swiss sports infrastructure
The Sports Facilities Unit focused its activities on CPD, knowledge building through CAS dissertations, networking, and the provision of consistently high-quality advisory services to the federal government, cantons, communes and other stakeholders in the sports sector.
The dissertations for the CAS in Sports Facilities, supervised by the Unit, addressed current issues in the fields of sustainability, multi-use, operating concepts, financial viability and the innovation potential of sports facilities. Twenty-six participants presented their dissertations at the Sports Facilities Conference. IAKS Switzerland (International Association of Sports and Leisure Facilities, Swiss Section) selected three projects which make a particulary significant contribution to current issues.
The Sports Facilities Unit conducted around 180 advice sessions in 2025. on a range of issues, including strategic considerations at the early planning stage, site- and land-use concepts, and operational, organisational and technical issues in existing and new facilities.
- Sports Facilities Unit (in German, French or Italian)
- Sports Facilities Unit – publication series, FOSPO shop
Values-based sustainable governance in Swiss sport
The organisational development unit addressed the development and transfer of values in Swiss sports clubs, a core topic in sustainable governance of the sport systems. The publication of a peer-reviewed article and several papers given at national and international conferences boosted the visibility and relevance of this research focus.
Successful joint project: Sport Management in Europe
Within the Sport Management Research Network, the unit played a key role in the successful completion of the textbook entitled Sport Management in Europe, which was published in November. This work makes an important contribution to the standardisation and further development of university-level teaching in sports management within a European context and raises the unit’s profile internationally.
In a project on AI-supported training for athletes, accepted as part of the Federal Office of Personnel’s Innovation Fellowship programme, the unit addressed a strategically important area combining technological developments with expertise in Sports Economics.
Sport Management in Europe: Major collaborative work now available
Jahresbericht der EHSM 2025
Annual Report 2025
This year the SFISM is publishing its annual report in digital format only. The report showcases key themes that shaped the SFISM in 2025 and illustrates the key figures with clear graphics.
Core topics in 2025
In 2025, the SFISM focused on strategic development. The aim was to clarify the institute’s role within the changing landscape of sport, higher education and public administration, and to set clear priorities.
Education and Continuing Professional Development
The SFISM continued to develop its range of courses. The newly restructured Bachelor’s degree programme in Sports Science and new continuing professional development (CPD) courses strengthen the institution’s academic foundation.
Teaching and Sports Education
The SFISM works actively to promote diversity, inclusion and equal opportunities. Practical teaching materials on ethics in sport encourage responsible behaviour.
Performance sport
The excellent facilities in the new Lärchenplatz building provide an ideal environment for both applied research and modern services with a high degree of practical relevance.
Sports coach education
In 2025, the focus was on preparations for the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and on continuing to develop the framework conditions and course formats.
Eidgenössische Hochschule für Sport Magglingen EHSM
Hauptstrasse 247
2532 Magglingen