Interest in Olympicism is increasing in Spain, world leader in research

In No other country in the world is as interested in Olympism as Spain.: it is clear from the incomparable figure, twelve, of Olympic Studies and Research Centers (CEIO) recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) among many other universities in Spain, which They represent 17% of those on the entire planet.

The CEIO of the University of Granada has just joined the network of these centers that promote “teaching, research, publication and conferences on the Olympic Movement, Olympism and the Olympic Games from the perspective of the Humanities or Social Sciences”, as defined by the IOC , which issues, checks and renews credentials.

there is almost as many centers in Spain alone as in the rest of Europe, 15. In the world has a total of 69. The countries that follow in number are Colombia, with 10 centers, and China, with nine.

The universities of Girona, Alfonso Membership is not a gift: the requirements are demanding and must be renewed every two years.

Why this interest in Spain?

Former athlete María José Martínez Patiño, doctor in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences and director of the Olympic Studies and Research Center at the University of Vigo since 2007, attributes this to two reasons.

“First of all,” he said, “the great impulse of Conrado Durántez for decades.”

He considered ‘brilliant in Olympism’, founder of the Royal Spanish Olympic Academy (RAOE) and president between 1968 and 2022, he did enormous popularization and academic work. The seed grew in the universities.

The RAOE is now headed by Raul Chapadoalso president of the Royal Spanish Athletics Federation (RFEA), which continued Durántez’s work.

But, in addition, Martínez Patiño points out, “The Spanish university is very effective and competitive“and his way of doing things fits like a glove with the requirements of the IOC.

“The IOC is asking for a path that we already know how to take. Already in degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences and in other areas of knowledge there was talk about Olympism, the Olympic Movement, the Olympic Games, the International Olympic Committee… You just have to prove it. And new ways are opened with Master’s degrees and doctorates. Recently, a doctorate was created at the University of Alicante where there is a line of research on Olympism, the Olympic Movement and Olympic Values. “These are the things that are clearly effective,” he said.

Doctoral theses, bachelor’s and master’s theses yield articles published in scientific journals and generate “a very important academic corpus and knowledge of Spanish universities around the world“.

“And we lead that,” emphasized the former athlete, who coordinates the Olympic Studies and Research Centers of all Spanish universities.

Martínez Patiño maintains that the Olympic Movement covers a wide spectrum that “no teacher in Spain can turn away from what it means.”

“These are very transversal themes: international relations, sports law, doping, organization of the games…All universities in Spain are capable of having an Olympic Studies Center,” he said.

However, the sign of the times marks the evolution of the topics of interest and the IOC has also drawn some lines of strategy. One of the tasks of the Royal Spanish Olympic Academy, says Martínez Patiño, who belongs to it, is to introduce them.

“The retired athletes, harassment issues, chronic doping, inclusion and diversity, mental health, trans issues“These are the issues that now require more attention, he indicated.

“In sport we must be sensitive to all of them. Some are uncomfortable, but we have to open the door to find solutions,” said the researcher, citing the creation of an Inclusion and Diversity Commission at the RFEA as a example for other organizations and other national and international federations. He personally works with the IOC and CAS (Court of Arbitration for Sport) in this area.

The The World Olympic Library is the vessel for all research and a must-see for sports researchers.

Despite Spanish leadership in the Olympic Study and Research Centers, there are still pending tasks.

“Unfortunately We do not lead IOC research projects because it is not valued in our country“, says Martínez Patiño. And the reason is also clear to him: “There is no turning back” for researchers. “Research in this area is not sufficiently appreciated nor the work of excellence that is done in recognized universities,” he says.