Play the Game

Speaking at #ptg2025, the deputy secretary general of the Council of Europe, Bjørn Berge, emphasised how the challenges facing sport mirror those across society, and why stronger frameworks are needed to safeguard athletes and uphold integrity 👇

www.playthegame.org/news/council...

Former Olympic race walker Sari Essayah's dual role in the Finnish government and the leadership of Olympic sport may become an integrity issue for the Finnish Centre for Integrity in Sports (FINCIS), said FINCIS chair Pia Ek at #ptg2025 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/finnish...

At #ptg2025, former cyclist Lizzy Banks and USADA’s Allison Wagner described how delays, inconsistencies, and power imbalances leave athletes feeling unprotected and in need of outside support to drive reform in the global anti-doping system 👇

www.playthegame.org/news/athlete...

In 1751, the Gin Act stopped targeting street corners and went straight for the big distilleries – and it worked! This lesson could inspire us to target the betting data providers to choke off the supply that fuels the flourishing illegal market 👇

www.playthegame.org/news/lessons...

Governance expert questions FIFA’s democratic decline Swiss governance expert Mark Pieth warns that FIFA’s internal democracy has deteriorated under Gianni Infantino and says he was astonished to see the 2034 World Cup handed to Saudi Arabia without mean...

Interview: Swiss governance expert Mark Pieth warns that FIFA’s internal democracy has deteriorated under Infantino and says he was astonished to see the 2034 World Cup handed to Saudi Arabia without meaningful criticism or debate 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/governa... #ptg2025

In Afghanistan, the Taliban has forced women’s sport underground⚠️

However, the GOAL programme spearheaded by Olympian Friba Rezayee from Afghanistan is challenging that 💪

Read or watch her full speech from #ptg2025👇

www.playthegame.org/news/afghan-...

Why are African national teams increasingly filled with Europe-born players, and how is this linked to the continent’s stadium boom? ⚽🤔

Steffany Nde examines what drives these trends👇

www.playthegame.org/news/behind-...

At #ptg2025, key voices called for new leadership, transparency, and renewed dialogue in global anti-doping. USADA says repeated meeting requests to WADA’s leadership were declined.

Read the article and the full speech by Travis Tygart 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/politic...

🗨️As the EU drafts a new vision for sport, voices at the MOVE Congress in Copenhagen warned that policy ideals and everyday participation are worlds apart.

Read the article 👇

www.playthegame.org/news/experts...

Whistleblowers Maggie Nichols and Abdullah Ibhais receive the Play the Game Award 2025 On the last day of Play the Game 2025, the Play the Game Award was awarded to two courageous whistleblowers in sport: Maggie Nichols and Abdullah Ibhais.

On the last day of #ptg2025, the Play the Game Award was awarded to two courageous whistleblowers in sport:
Maggie Nichols and Abdullah Ibhais👇

www.playthegame.org/news/whistle...

More articles from #ptg2025 are now live❗

If you’ve missed parts of the conference or want to dive deeper into the key discussions, our talented journalists
@karimzidan.com, Steve Menary, and Lars Jørgensen have you covered👇

www.playthegame.org/news/

Sports Interest Group Calls On UEFA, IOC To Help Belarusian Dissident Play the Game, a good governance group for the sports industry, has called on UEFA and the IOC to pressure Russia and Belarus to secure the release of Anatol Kotau.

Read the article 'Sports Interest Group Calls On UEFA, IOC To Help Belarusian Dissident' by John Affleck in @forbes.com 👇

www.forbes.com/sites/johnaf... #ptg2025

Another inspiring day filled with sharp insights, open debates, and challenging questions about the future of sport at #ptg2025

Photographer Thomas Søndergaard captured the atmosphere and energy across the many sessions throughout day 3 📸

👇
www.flickr.com/photos/play_...

DAY 4! 💥 We’re live!

It’s the final day of the conference - but we still have a full and exciting programme ahead!

www.playthegame.org/conferences/...

#ptg2025

Survivor voices and collective action are key to building a safer culture in sport Recognising survivor-led progress, Kat Craig insisted in her speech at Play the Game 2025 that the next steps in making sport safer should be rebuilding trust through openness, empathy, and a showdown...

Recognising survivor-led progress, Kat Craig insisted in her speech at #ptg2025 that the next steps in making sport safer should be rebuilding trust through openness, empathy, and a showdown with the concept of sport's autonomy.

Her full speech 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/survivo...

Speech: Trump, the UFC, and the new world order in sports In my speech at Play the Game 2025, I delve into Donald Trump’s bond with the UFC and reveal the cast of power players shaping his sports agenda.

In my speech at @playthegame-org.bsky.social 2025 in Finland, I delved into Donald Trump’s bond with the UFC and reveal the cast of power players shaping his sports agenda.

You can reach the speech and watch the entire session here: www.sportspolitika.news/p/speech-tru...

At 16:30 UTC+3, Carine Kanimba from the World Liberty Congress will join the session “Football’s Geopolitical Game: Are We Heading Towards a New World Order?”📢

She will present “Rwanda: Football and Repression” ⚽

Watch live🖥️👇 #ptg2025

www.playthegame.org/conferences/...

#ptg2025 is already in full swing, with engaging debates and inspiring speakers sharing insights on some of the most pressing issues in sport and society

Take a look at the moments we’ve captured so far from the first two days 👇
www.flickr.com/photos/play_...

📸: Thomas Søndergaard

DAY 3! We’re ready to go live! 🎥

And we’re picking up right where we left off yesterday. At 9:00 AM (UCT+3), you can tune in to the livestream of the session “Between inclusion and regulation: Transgender athletes in the sporting arena.”👩‍💻

#ptg2025

www.playthegame.org/conferences/...

Sportswashing turns inward as the US faces criticism ahead of major global events Academics and human rights experts argued at Play the Game 2025 that the US is using sport to deflect domestic criticism and restrict dissent, urging stronger oversight and ethical standards.

At #ptg2025 academics and human rights experts argued that the US is using sport to deflect domestic criticism and restrict dissent, urging stronger oversight and ethical standards❌

Read the article👇

www.playthegame.org/news/sportsw...

How Trump has turned sport from brand to power Decades of self-promotion through sport have become the foundation of Donald Trump's political theatre.

How sport became one of Trump's most powerful tools🛠️

Go to the theme page that traces Donald Trump's extensive use of sports as both a personal branding tool and a central instrument of political power and public influence💡👇

playthegame.org/projects/tru...

@karimzidan.com

Live streaming from Play the Game 2025 Find links to all the sessions that are live streamed from Play the Game 2025

Jetzt gerade bei @playthegame-org.bsky.social: Whistleblower Abdullah Ibhais, der die Arbeiterstreiks bei den WM-Baustellen in Katar veröffentlicht und sich mit der katarischen Regierung angelegt hat. Erst im März 2025 ist er aus dem Gefängnis gekommen.

www.playthegame.org/conferences/...

At the opening of #ptg2025, Jens Sejer Andersen called on the international sports movement to take action regarding the disappearance of Anatol Kotau, a Belarusian sports reformer📢

Read his full speech 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/making-...

From sport to purpose: My journey as an athlete, survivor, and advocate In her opening keynote speech at Play the Game 2025, Maggie Nichols called for stronger mechanisms to protect athletes and promote transparency within sport.

💬 "I'm here for every athlete, across every sport, who has ever wondered whether their voice could make a difference. It can. Your story matters. Your courage matters," Maggie Nichols stated in her keynote speech at #ptg2025👇

www.playthegame.org/news/maggie-...

Fascinating talk on sports washing by @julesboykoff.bsky.social at @playthegame-org.bsky.social

Challenged my traditional thinking on the topic!

As over 500 participants gathered in Tampere, Finland, for #ptg2025, @staniselsborg.bsky.social, head of Play the Game, used his opening speech to urge the sports world to keep debate alive - even when it is uncomfortable❗

Read his speech 👇
www.playthegame.org/news/play-th...

📸: Thomas Søndergaard

We're live from Play the Game 2025! 🙌💥

Join us online today for three inspiring sessions - streamed live on our website and on LinkedIn Live 👨‍💻

👇

www.playthegame.org/conferences/...

The Play the Game team has arrived in Tampere!🙌

We look forward to welcoming a record number of participants from more than 60 countries to #ptg2025🎉

See you soon - in real life or online😉👨‍💻

www.playthegame.org/conferences/...

In just a few days, more than 520 conference participants will gather in Finland for #ptg2025👏

Behind the scenes, a dedicated team is working on final preparations to ensure everything runs smoothly. If you have questions during the conference, don't hesitate to reach out👇

Play the Game offers free live streaming from 19 conference sessions 19 of the 65 sessions at Play the Game 2024 will be live-streamed and available to watch for free on Play the Game's website as the conference progresses, and the videos will also be available on dema...

Not in Tampere 5-8 October❓ No problem❗

You can still follow the conference from anywhere in the world🌍

Presentations and debates from 19 sessions will be live-streamed for free on Play the Game’s website - and available on demand afterwards🖥️

www.playthegame.org/news/play-th...