SPM123 International Organization of Sports (Spring 2027)

ECTS Credits:
10
Responsible department:
Department of Sport and Social Sciences
Course Leader:
Allan Bennich Grønkjær
Lecture Semester:
Spring
Teaching language:
English
Duration:
½ year

Table of contents

Introduction

The point of departure for this web-based course will be international organizations and their roles in the sporting area. The course examines the functioning of international sporting bodies such as the IOC and international federations. In addition, international organizations such as the EU and the UN are discussed in a global context. Finally, the course will emphasize challenges in international sports development and events related to governance, human rights and sportswashing. The structure of the course is divided into six modules:

  • Sport models
  • The structure of international sport organizations
  • Governance in international sport
  • International sporting events
  • Challenges in the democratic understanding of sports
  • Sportswashing

Prerequisite

No subjects.

Admission to the course

Online students - international students and internal NIH students from all study programs.

Learning outcomes

After completion of the course, the student will

  • have knowledge about various 'sport models' around the world, such as the Scandinavian, the European, the American and the Chinese.
  • be able to explain how international organizations such as the IOC, WADA and international sport federations operate and understand the role of various stakeholders.
  • be able to analyze the role of international organizations in areas such as governance.
  • be able to discuss if international events at different levels are vital to the structure of international sport.
  • have knowledge about human rights agenda concerning international sport organizations, understand how international sports are used as a soft power and how "sportswashing" is used to sanitize and distract from political and humanitarian criticism.

Learning methods and activities

Online teaching is built on six modules. The modules consist of written text and video clips, including tests and encouraging the students to reflect on the topics. Even though this course is online, and the students can steer the learning process by themselves, they are encouraged to create discussion groups. Students from Norway, Sweden and Denmark may use their own language.

Work requirements

All pages in each of the modules must be completed, including all reflections. At the end of each module, a reflection note must be submitted and approved within specified deadlines in order to be eligible to take the exam in the subject.

Assessment/exam

A four-hour written home exam at the end of the semester. Graded on a scale from A to F.

The exam assignment will be submitted via Wiseflow and distributed at the start of the exam.

Please note that the assignment will undergo plagiarism checking, and NIH's guidelines for source usage and artificial intelligence must be followed.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 3:18:57 AM