08 April 2025 - Over the past year, 375 undergraduate and master’s students from nearly 30 universities worldwide have been participating in the 2024/2025 edition of the International Olympic Case Study Competition (CSC), tackling current strategic management challenges in international sport. Organised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s Olympic Studies Centre in collaboration with Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (Germany) and the Universidad Europea de Madrid (Spain), the CSC provides a unique problem-based learning platform where students develop solutions for real-world sports management issues.
The competition, which features separate categories for undergraduate and master’s students, saw a record number of universities compete. Teams first faced off within their own institutions before advancing to compete at international level. Ten finalist teams – six in the master’s category and four in the undergraduate category – presented their innovative solutions before an international panel of academic and professional experts.
“The CSC is an ideal platform for students to work on real challenges that international sports organisations are facing,” said Maria Bogner, Head of the Olympic Studies Centre. "The international aspect of the programme allows students to step beyond the walls of their universities and compete against peers from other countries.”
Mariya Kutmanova, IOC Head of Brand Growth and a jury member, said: “This is a brilliant, mutually beneficial way to gain insight into how future fans and sports leaders think and their vision for tackling some of the most pressing challenges that the Olympic Movement faces.”
The competition was intense, and after deliberations by the jury, the student group from the Lang School of Business and Economics – University of Guelph (Canada) won the undergraduate competition. They shared the podium with students from the Universidad Europea de Madrid (Spain), who came second, and the University of Dayton (USA), in third place.
“What started as a classroom challenge turned into something far bigger than we ever imagined,” said the winning team from the University of Guelph. “Competing in the International Olympic Case Study Competition and facing teams from around the world was both humbling and inspiring. This experience pushed our team to think critically, creatively and strategically about the future of international sport. Seeing our ideas recognised on a global stage was incredibly rewarding.”
In the master’s category, students from the International University of Monaco secured first place, followed by students from the University of Lille 1 Sciences and Technology (France) and the Capital University of Physical Education and Sports (PR China).
Dr Fang Liang, from the Capital University of Physical Education and Sports, said: “The opportunity to participate in the International Olympic Case Study Competition has been invaluable for our students and for us as professors. We greatly appreciate this experience and are already looking forward to next year's edition.”
The next edition of the CSC, with the theme "Accompanying and Supporting Young Elite Athletes", is now open for applications. For the first time, this 2025/2026 edition of the programme will see teams that reach the finals given the option to present their work in front of an international jury in person in Lausanne (Switzerland).
Find all the information about the CSC, including the rules, timelines, links for registration and previous editions here.
