Internationally renowned expertise

Over the past 15 years, IRIS has cultivated its international sport expertise through its network of internationally recognised interdisciplinary researchers.

Building on the Institute’s national and international work, IRIS has been able to secure commissions to prepare consultancy reports, research and studies for both public- and private-sector clients.

IRIS has also developed a strong advisory role to European Union Member States on matter of integrity in sport, for example through the PreCrimBet programme for the European Commission, 2016–2017. The Institute is also a member of a number of international consortia for EU projects on athlete education and whistleblowing, where it provides expertise on sport regulation and the fight against corruption in sport.

IRIS, a leading organisation on geopolitics of sport

IRIS is France’s leading organisation for work in the geopolitics of sport. It is recognised as a leading European authority on integrity in sport issues. As such, it was chosen by the European Commission to carry out research and awareness-raising programmes on match fixing (2012–2014), preventing corruption in athletes (2016–2017), criminal risks associated with sport betting (2016–2017) and protecting whistleblowers in sport (2017–2018).

IRIS is also a member of the Permanent Consultative Council of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport.

IRIS also places particular emphasis on analysing sport diplomacy — a growing field given the emergence of new State powers on the world stage. These soft-power strategies can serve specific political, economic and diplomatic aims. IRIS supported the development of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ sport diplomacy policy, following the Institute’s 2013 Diplosport research programme.

IRIS’ third approach to sport research focuses on the specificities of sport governance. In particular, it looks at the role of sports bodies, their interests and the notion of the “autonomy” of sport, a concept widely advocated by sport organisations that belies the reality of complex interconnections between public and private aspects of sport governance. The Institute’s research highlights the geopolitical forces that can come into play, for example in the pursuit of medals or the hosting of events. Research also looks at sport’s economic impact — internationally, sport earnings equal 2% of world GDP — and the integrity of sporting competitions.