Scientific research has become an essential tool for addressing some of the greatest challenges facing modern sport. Issues such as gender equality, athlete well-being, and the strengthening of sports organizations require evidence-based solutions capable of being translated into concrete actions. In this context, the Olympic Studies Centre (OSC) of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has established its research grant programs as a bridge between academia and decision-making, enabling knowledge generated by experts around the world to have a direct impact on the development of the Olympic Movement.
One of the latest examples will take center stage at the 2026 IWG World Conference on Women & Sport, organized by the International Working Group (IWG) on Women and Sport, in Birmingham, United Kingdom. There, Professor Clare Hanlon, from Victoria University, will present research supported by an Olympic Studies Centre grant that led to the publication of the IOC’s guidelines for recruiting and retaining women coaches. Her work demonstrates how these grant programs not only fund research but also foster direct collaboration with the Olympic body to transform scientific findings into practical policies for international sport.
The Research That Shaped the IOC’s New Guidelines
The project led by Clare Hanlon was carried out under the Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme in close collaboration with the IOC Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Unit. Throughout the project, the research team gathered insights from International Federations to identify the organizational practices that are most effective in attracting, developing, and retaining women coaches—one of the most significant challenges still facing high-performance sport.
The findings were later incorporated into the publication “Good Practices for Advancing Women Coaches in International Federations”, a resource that provides examples of successful initiatives already implemented by International Federations, along with an evidence-based checklist to guide future organizational decisions. According to Hanlon, working directly with those responsible for developing policies made it possible to address the real needs of the sports system, producing tools that federations can apply immediately while strengthening evidence-based decision-making. From the IOC, Director of Gender Equality and Inclusion Primrose Mhunduru emphasized that this collaboration demonstrates how scientific research can become an essential pillar for building stronger and more effective policies.
Grants That Connect Academia with the Olympic Movement
The impact of these programs extends far beyond a single project. Since 1999, the Olympic Research Grant Programme for Doctoral Students and Early Career Academics has supported studies related to Olympism, while the Advanced Olympic Research Grant Programme, launched in 2014, enables established researchers to work directly with IOC departments on topics identified as priorities for the future of sport. In addition to financial support, both programs encourage ongoing collaboration between the scientific community and the IOC.
This collaborative model is also reflected in the work of Dr. Janja Tekavc, a researcher at the University of Maribor in Slovenia, who conducted a study on mental health literacy among young elite athletes. Thanks to the support of the Olympic Studies Centre, the research evolved from an academic project into a practical resource that now helps inform the IOC’s work on athlete mental well-being. Dr. Tekavc highlighted that the guidance received throughout the process enabled her findings to be translated into meaningful action, while Scott Sloan, the IOC’s Senior Manager for Mental Health Projects, noted that this collaboration with the academic community strengthens the organization’s strategic decision-making and enhances its ability to develop evidence-based programs that benefit athletes around the world.
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