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.
tf.hu/bsa |
Welcome to the 4th Biomechanics in Sport and Ageing Symposium: Muscle-Tendon Structure and Interactions, organised by the Hungarian University of Sports Science and the Department of Kinesiology, Budapest, Hungary, 12-13 April 2027!
The aim of the symposium is to provide a scientific platform for a state-of-the-art update on the progress in muscle-tendon biomechanics with respect to sport and ageing.
Sport and ageing might appear unrelated. Yet we consider sport and ageing as complementary: assessment and training methods developed in sport science are transformed into diagnosis and treatment of ageing-related impairments.
The symposium starts with two keynote presentations, which will be free of charge and open to the public.
Then, registrants for the symposium will have the opportunity to attend two sessions of invited presentations on the biomechanics of the ageing musculoskeletal system and two sessions of invited presentations on injury prevention and rehabilitation on muscle and tendon injuries.
Session 1 and 2 will address the disease of the 21st century, muscle wasting or sarcopenia. Recent epidemiological studies and meta-reviews suggest that low skeletal muscle quantity and quality are associated with and can, if not corrected, exacerbate clinical conditions. Prevention of skeletal muscle loss and rehabilitation of dysfunctional muscles are thus at the pinnacle of experimental research. This is especially true with respect to ageing, as the senior segments of society have been growing in every country around the world. Because Parkinson’s disease often evolves in conjunction with ageing, it is relevant to minimize muscle loss in this debilitating condition.
Session 3 and 4 will be on the second day of the symposium with a focus on muscle-tendon structure and interactions in in sports, with special attention to how emerging methods in the field accelerate our knowledge on sports performance and injury risk management.
The 4th Symposium will end with practical workshops. The workshops will demonstrate new methods such as 3-D freehand ultrasonography and DTI MTI, presented by the local lab.
Welcome to Budapest! Network, learn, and enjoy the symposium!
Sincerely yours,
Dr. András Hegyi, PhD, chair of the scientific committee
Prof. dr. h. c. Tibor Hortobágyi, PhD and Dr. Bálint Kovács co-chairs of the scientific committee
Mr. Dániel Mezei, Ms. Eszter Kerekes, co-chairs of the organising committee
Scientific Committee
- Dr. Tamás Berki
- Dr. habil. Tamás Csányi
- Dr. Gergely Csurilla
- Dr. Tamás Dóczi
- Dr. habil. Andrea Gál
- Prof. Dr. Gábor Géczi
- Dr. András Hegyi
- Prof. Dr. Tibor Hortobágyi
- Dr. Tamás Horváth
- Prof. Dr. Kentaro Kawanaka
- Dr. Erika Kendelényi-Gulyás
- András Kiss
- Dr. habil. Zsuzsanna Kneffel
- Prof. Dr. Ákos Koller
- Dr. Erika Koltai
- Dr. Bence Kopper
- Dr. Bálint Kovács
- Dr. Tímea Kováts
- Dr. Csaba Ökrös
- Prof. Dr. Gábor Pavlik
- Dr. Szilvia Perényi
- Dr. Leonidas Petridis
- Prof. Dr. Zsolt Radák
- Dr. Viktória Resperger
- Dr. Leila Seres
- Dr. Nikoletta Sipos-Onyestyák
- Prof. Dr. Tamás Sterbenz
- Dr. Tímea Téglás
- Dr. Ferenc Torma
- Prof. Dr. Miklós Tóth
- Dr. Lilla Török
- Dr. habil. Martina Uvacsek
Organizing Committee
- Dr. Sándor Béres
- Petra Anna Geszti
- Dr. Noémi Gyömbér
- Polett Veronika Hadusfalvy
- Dr. Tamás Horváth
- Kata Kádár
- Dr. Irina Kalabiska
- Eszter Kerekes
- Zoltán Kerekes
- András Király
- Dr. habil. Zsuzsanna Kneffel
- Kornélia Kovács
- Krisztina Nemerkényiné Hidegkuti
- Dr. Leonidas Petridis
- Dr. Viktória Resperger
- Dr. Nikoletta Sipos-Onyestyák
- Anita Sturm
- Ferenc Varga
Social events
- Boat trip on river Danube 28 April, 2026– (EUR 15,00)
- Quiz night 28 April, 2026– (FREE)
- Walking tour to Buda Castle 29 April, 2026 – (FREE)
- Lab tours 29 April 2026, 15:30–16:30 | 16:30–17:30
Conference participants can indicate the choices of preference on the registration site.
Trip on the River Danube
The sightseeing course with a rooftop deck visits the stunning buildings of Budapest on the side of the River Danube. The unique experience is elevated by the beautiful weather of Hungary; this time of the year is warm but not too hot, so it is indeed the perfect opportunity for coursing on the river. This is a highly recommend tourist activity by many and a nice way to experience the city.
Date: 28 April, 2026
Price: 15,00 EUR (including bus transportation to the boat and tourist guide)
Conference participants can indicate the choices of preference on the registration site.
QUIZ Night
Join us for an exciting Quiz Night packed with sports and Hungarian vibes! Test your knowledge with questions about international and local sports, from legendary athletes to unforgettable matches. Between rounds, enjoy fun and surprising questions about Hungary’s culture, history, and everyday life. The evening continues with music, dancing, and a lively party atmosphere, making it perfect for teams of friends who love competition, good vibes, and celebrating together.
Date: 29 April, 2026
This event is free to join!
Conference participants can indicate the choices of preference on the registration site.
Walking Tour to the Castle
Budapest is divided into two parts by the River Danube. Buda is on the right side of the river, while Pest is on the left side. The Conference will take place in Buda, not far away from the Castle. This is a great opportunity to admire the World Heritage sights of the Buda Castle and the Castle District including the Fisherman’s Bastion. You can also enjoy the fantastic view of the rest of the city, with the newly renovated Chain Bridge and the Parliament on the other side of the Danube. The waking tour will take 1,5-2 hours, with some uphill walking and stairs included.
Date: 29 April 2026,
This event is free to join! (including a guide)
Conference participants can indicate the choices of preference on the registration site.
Lab tours
Discover the exciting world of an accredited laboratory for dietary supplement testing! 🔬🔎
Have you ever wondered how challenging it is to test a dietary supplement? This is your chance to step behind the scenes of an accredited laboratory and explore the fascinating world of science through exciting, hands-on tasks.
And here is one thing you will quickly discover: laboratory work is nothing like in the movies — you cannot simply put a sample into a machine and get the answer instantly. Real results require expertise, precision, and a lot of careful work.
Join us on 29 April 2026 on the first floor of Building L1 at the Centre for Sports Nutrition Science of the Hungarian University of Sports Science, and find out how good you are at being a detective in the world of test tubes and scientific instruments!
Date: 29 April 2026, 15:30–16:30
Location: Building L1, 1st floor – meet at the registration area
A 2D and 3D motion analysis laboratory equipped with a 6‑camera integrated marker‑based motion capture system, which enables time‑synchronized recording of 16‑channel surface EMG and 3D Kistler force plate data.
A student sports physiology laboratory, where students perform musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, and respiratory physiological measurements on themselves. Students are able to conduct ergospirometric metabolic measurements independently.
In the cardiovascular laboratory, we perform non‑invasive blood pressure monitoring and heart rate variability (HRV) measurements. Using our ultrasound equipment, we conduct 2D and 3D echocardiographic examinations as well as vascular ultrasound assessments.
Using the Euleria multimodal system, we can examine the state of movement and balance control.
Date: 29 April 2026, 16:30–17:30
Location: Building L1, ground floor – meet at the registration area
Participants of the conference may consider the following options for accommodation. We listed several price options and indicated the distance from the conference venue.
Mercure Budapest Castle Hill (H-1013, Budapest Krisztina krt. 41-43) - 1,3 km
- This hotel is 10 minutes walking distance from the conference site.
- Guests are welcome to park vehicles outside the hotel entrance and to enjoy the brand-new design inspired by the colourful and lively streets of Budapest. The hotel is well located, the Castle District can be reached by walking through a nice park in 5 minutes. It has, direct access to public transport, such as buses, metro lines and the “Déli pályaudvar” train station. Easy to reach by car from M1/M7 highways. Ferenc Liszt International Airport is only 27 km’s away.
- For more info and for booking, please visit here
Novotel Budapest City & Budapest Congress Center (H-1123 Budapest, Alkotás utca 63–67) - 450 m
- The Hotel is within 5 minutes walking distance from the university, nice quality rooms and spaces, spa, bars and cafes.
- For more info please click here
Hotel Mediterrán (H-1118 Budapest, Budaörsi út 20a) - 1,3 km
- Walking distance from conference site.
- website
Ibis Budapest Castle Hill (H-1013 Budapest, Krisztina krt. 41-43) - 1,1 km
- Walking distance from conference site
- website
Gold Hotel Budapest (H-1016 Budapest, Hegyalja út 14) - 1,2 km
- Walking distance from conference site.
- website
Hotel Bara (H-1118 Budapest, Hegyalja út 34-36) - 1,8 km
- Walking distance from conference site.
- website
Hotel Charles (H-1016 Budapest, Hegyalja út 23) - 1 km
- Walking distance from Conference Site.
- website
Helios Panzió (H-1121 Budapest, Lidérc utca 5) - 4,5 km
- 25 minutes by public transportation from conference site
- This is a nice family run hotel with 11 double rooms (1-2 persons) and 6 apartmant studios (1-4 persons). The friendly,cosy rooms. Rooms with spacious terrace with magnificent view to Budapest (on request).
- website: Helios Apartman Hotel (heliospanzio.hu)
Jagelló Hotel (H-1124 Budapest, Jagelló út 38) - 850 m
- Walking distance from conference site
- See website for prices
Ábel Panzió (H-1113 Budapest, Ábel Jenő utca 9) - 3,3 km
- Walking distance or 3 stops with public transportation from conference site
- See website for prices
Hotel Walzer and Restaurant (H-1124 Budapest, Németvölgyi út 110) - 2,5 km
- Walking distance or 3 stops with public transportation from conference site
- See website for prices
