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The Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences of the University of Jyväskylä and the Football Association of Finland are co-organizing the first international football conference on May 11–12, 2022 in Jyväskylä. The conference organized by the University of Jyväskylä is preceded by the Sport Meets Business event to be held on May 10, 2022, which will focus on the effectiveness of football from the perspective of the sports business.

The Sport Meets Business curtain-raiser organized by Business Jyväskylä will highlight the themes of the social impact of sports and football, solutions for optimal performance and responsible football business. The event, to be held with a business focus, will bring together companies, investors and international stakeholders in sports and football.

The topics of the event will include the effectiveness measures of La Liga, the highest league in Spain and one of the most watched football leagues in the world. The event panel will discuss the social impact of football, sport, and sporting events and how to measure it.

Local and international growth companies offering optimal sports performance and gaming solutions will display at the event. The event will bring world sports networks and international guests to Jyväskylä and offer an excellent place to meet, network and highlight the solutions companies can offer to the world of sports.

The international football conference brings together more than 200 sports influencers in Jyväskylä

The actual football conference on May 11-12 will focus on the responsibility and effectiveness of football, guided by researched information. The conference will provide interesting speeches and diverse research perspectives as those working in football, researchers in the sport, and those interested in research will be able to hear and share best practices. 

–The conference is an excellent networking opportunity. The event brings together researchers, coaches and other professionals, students, the media, and stakeholders, says Mihaly Szerovay, Professor of Practice and the Chair of the conference.

The Nordic Football Conference program is built around themes based on researched knowledge and responsibility: 

  • coaching and player development 
  • current issues in football culture 
  • global football practices

The keynote speakers at the conference will be successful and international names in terms of coaching and player development, societal impact, and trends in women’s football.

Registration for both events is open

Registration for the Sport Meets Business curtain-raiser and the international football conference opens on March 1, 2022 and is open until May 3, 2022. Registration for both events is done with the same registration form.

The curtain-raiser will be organized live at the Startup Factory in Jyväskylä and streamed online. Due to the limited number of participants, the live event is only for invited guests and companies participating in the event. If you are interested in the live event, you can express it through the registration form. We will notify anyone interested in the live event of any vacancies no later than April 15.

The partners of the event are Firstbeat, the University of Jyväskylä and JAMK University of Applied Sciences. The Sport Meets Business event is organized by Business Jyväskylä, the business services unit of the City of Jyväskylä. See the program of the event and more details here.

Further information:
Sport Meets Business: Nina Rautiainen, Project Manager, Business Jyväskylä, nina.rautianen@jyvaskyla.fi

Nordic Football Conference: Mihaly Szerovay, Professor of Practice, University of Jyväskylä, nordicfootball2022(at)jyu.fi

The Sport Meets Business event is part of the ecosystem work of promoting physical activity, wellbeing, and health in cooperation with universities. The event will be funded by ERDF funding in accordance with the ecosystem agreement signed between the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment and the City of Jyväskylä a year ago, with the aim of developing the operating environment for companies. The project involves the ecosystems of renewable industry and exercise, health, and wellbeing.