Fifth edition of the Network Prize: Twelve projects will compete!

CIES has received twelve projects for the fifth edition of the FIFA/CIES International University Network Prize (two more than in 2013). An international jury will select the winning project on 12 January 2015. 

Created in 2011 on the initiative of the Universidad Católica Argentina, the FIFA/CIES International University Network Prize aims to reward innovative and original work in the understanding of phenomena related to sports on a continental, national, regional and local level. The award consists of a trip to Switzerland to visit the headquarters of FIFA and CIES, and for the winning students to present their work to the FIFA Master class. 

It is noteworthy that this year, Fundação Getulio Vargas in Rio de Janeiro/São Paulo (Brazil) and Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University in Port Elizabeth (South Africa) both presented two projects that have been judged to be equivalent by the local juries. 

The twelve projects selected by the CIES partner universities are:

 

Cairo University, Egypt

Mohamed Ibrahim Ahmed El-Domiaty, Amira Mohamed Youssef Ali, Abdel Awal Mohamed Abdel Rahim

“Teams Confederation Stars Cup: A plan to implement organisation of the Cup”

Define a plan for organisation of the Teams Confederation Stars Cup taking into account all the logistic aspects but also those linked to health, economy, society and leisure activities. Evaluate any problems and propose solutions.

 

Fundação Getulio Vargas, Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo, Brazil

Alexandre Oliveira Mota, Daniel Frayha Kochen, Fabiano Henrique Stadler de Castro

“FIFA Social Seal: Promoting social responsibility in football”

Show the power of football and use its transformation potential in the framework of a project aimed at promoting societal changes, in particular in the most underprivileged segments of society. 

 

Fundação Getulio Vargas, Rio de Janeiro & São Paulo, Brazil

Ivan Boiça, Vicente Amedeo Sfeir

“Feasibility study: Starting a sports sponsorship acquisition company in Brazil”

Considering the impact of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil in the field of sports marketing, examine the changes that have arisen in this sector as well as the appearance of new ways of working related to marketing of sponsorship linked to sport and to the entertainment industry. 

 

Universidad de Costa Rica, San José

Andrea Briceño Ramírez, Jorge Mario Véliz Ponce, Karlos Tapia, Natalia Sánchez Salazar, Santiago Aguilar Rodríguez, Warner Castro León

“ASOAMIDE - Friends of Sport Association: An opportunity for Costa Rican sport”

Create an association bringing together businesses in favour of sponsorship and willing to invest in Costa Rican sport (athletes, various sports, public and private entities). 

 

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Matthew Blair, Girley Maifala, Lorinda Nel

“The role of sport in sustainable social development through recycling”

Design, produce and distribute sports balls from waste in order to generate income in underprivileged communities. 

 

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa

Bonginhlahla Ndlovu, Cedrick Smith, Mawethu Mbanga, Zukile Mangcangaza

“Issues affecting governance and sustainability in amateur football. A view on local Football Associations (LFA's) in Nelson Mandela Bay”

Analysing governance systems of local Football Associations in Nelson Mandela Bay and making the necessary recommendations. 

 

Notre Dame University-Louaize, Beirut, Lebanon

Nisrine Wazen, Christeena Bado, Hovsep Seraydarian, Jamil Tayar

“Roadmap to Qatar 2022”

Seek to define a “winning model” to create a group of world-class players with a view to improving the quality of Lebanese football and increasing the chances of qualification for the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Instil in athletes a sense of belonging to their unified community. 

 

Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires

Rosario Cieza, Santiago Conde, Pablo Fuentes, Franco Longobardi, Sebastián Sorondo

“Structural development of surfing in Argentina”

Achieve structural development of surfing in Argentina from basic recruitment to top-level sport. Define a professional and self-sustainable action plan. 

 

Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal

Adama Gning, Fara Mbengue, Alioune Ndiaye, Harry Davy Bekale, Cheikh Mohamed Fadel Diop

“The new organisation of Senegalese wrestling "Le Beure"”

Present the history and situation of Senegalese wrestling as well as its stakeholders. Analyse its environment (from a financial, strategic and human perspective) and the problems the sport has to face. Propose solutions and a new organisation for Senegalese wrestling. 

 

Universidad Metropolitana, Caracas, Venezuela

Rafael Acosta, Eduardo Basalo, Leonel Yépez

“Comprehensive baseball academy, training citizens to serve society”

Build a concrete project related to baseball - around sport, studies and moral values - with a view to training citizens who are ready to commit themselves and contribute to society. 

 

Universidad San Martín de Porres, Lima, Peru

Alexis Delgado, José Chavarri, Luis Gómez

“Sport Tour Operator: Global Sport Tour”

Create a tourism business to fight sedentary lifestyles, promoting multiculturalism and allowing social integration.

 

Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain

Paula Tomás Ferrer, Tanja Kostic Kostic, Pablo Bisbal de Celis, Manuel Pociello Haro

“Sport management in professional football in Spain”

Analyse management models in professional football clubs in Spain and define their advantages and disadvantages. Identify a sport management project and suggest improvements to the current situation. 

 

As a reminder, the 2014 International University Network Prize was awarded to a project on “Women's Football. Competition and Player Development. A comparison of South Africa and Germany ” presented by two students from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (South Africa).