30th Congress of the European Committee for Sports History (CESH)
Budapest, Hungary | 9-11 June 2027
Hosted by the European Committee for Sports History (CESH), the Hungarian University of Sports Science (HUSS), and the SPIRIT Olympic Studies and Research Centre
Stars, Wars and Sporting Stardom
The European Committee for Sports History (CESH), in cooperation with the Hungarian University of Sports Science (HUSS) and the SPIRIT Olympic Studies and Research Centre, invites scholars, researchers, and postgraduate students to submit abstracts for the 30th Annual CESH Congress, to be held in Budapest, Hungary, from 9 to 11 June 2027.
The 2027 Congress takes place in a year marked by several significant anniversaries that provide an opportunity to reflect on the history, development, and social significance of sport:
- 30th Congress of the European Committee for Sports History (CESH)
- 100th anniversary of the birth of Ferenc Puskás (1927-2006), one of the most influential Hungarian sporting icons of the twentieth century
- 50th anniversary of the release of Star Wars (1977-2027), a cultural phenomenon that transformed popular understandings of heroism, rivalry, spectacle, and myth-making
Inspired by these anniversaries, the Congress theme, "Stars, Wars and Sporting Stardom", invites participants to examine the individuals, institutions, organizations, and cultures that have shaped the history of sport. The congress seeks to explore how sporting heroes, governing bodies, clubs, federations, educational institutions, media organizations, and political actors have contributed to the creation of sporting narratives, identities, conflicts, and collective memories.
The concept of "stars" directs attention not only to celebrated athletes and coaches but also to the broader networks and institutions that create, manage, promote, and preserve sporting excellence. Likewise, the notion of "wars" encompasses not only sporting rivalries and competitive struggles but also political, ideological, cultural, and symbolic conflicts in which sport has played an important role.
The Congress welcomes contributions that examine sport as a historical, cultural, political, social, educational, and media phenomenon. We particularly encourage interdisciplinary approaches that connect sport history with cultural history, political history, media studies, sociology, education, heritage studies, visual culture, and related fields.
Suggested Themes
Athletes and Coaches as Historical Actors
- Sporting stars as agents of social, cultural, or political change
- Leadership, charisma, and authority in sport
- Coaches as educators, strategists, ideologues, and nation-builders
- Biographical and microhistorical approaches to athletes and coaches
Stardom, Media, and Representation
- The creation of sporting celebrities through media
- Sport in film, television, documentary, literature, and visual culture
- Heroization, myth-making, scandal, and collective memory
- Gendered, racialized, and class-based representations of sporting fame
- The commercial production of sporting stars
Sport, Politics, and Ideological Conflict
- Sport and nation-building
- Political uses of sport in democratic and authoritarian societies
- Boycotts, protests, defections, and symbolic confrontations
- Colonial, post-colonial, and transnational perspectives
Competition, Rivalry, and Conflict
- Historical sporting rivalries
- Violence, discipline, and regulation in sport
- Military influences on sporting culture and training systems
- Sport during and after periods of war and political conflict
- Sport as a vehicle for reconciliation and peace-building
Sport, Society, and Cultural Heritage
- Fan cultures and supporter identities
- Memory, commemoration, and heritage in sport
- Museums, archives, and collections
- Local, national, and global dimensions of sporting culture
Beyond the Arena
- Sport in art, music, fashion, and performance
- Commercialization and branding
- Digital sport history and online communities
- Social media, gaming, and new forms of sporting engagement
- Future directions in sport history research
Open Topic Session
In keeping with the traditions of CESH, proposals addressing any aspect of sports history are also welcome. Contributions are not required to engage directly with the congress theme and may explore broader historical questions related to sport, physical culture, leisure, movement cultures, education, and society.
Submission Guidelines
Participants are invited to submit an abstract of up to 300 words, together with a short biographical note.
Deadline for abstract submission: 31 January 2027
Notification of acceptance: 15 March 2027
Join Us in Budapest
In addition to a rich academic programme, the congress will offer a variety of social and cultural events, providing opportunities for networking, professional exchange, and experiencing the sporting and cultural heritage of Budapest.
We warmly invite scholars from Europe and beyond to join us in celebrating the 30th CESH Congress and contributing to new perspectives on sport, society, memory, institutions, and sporting stardom.
