RESEARCH PROJECT ON THE PARTICIPATION OF ATHLETES FROM RUSSIA AND BELARUS IN THE 2024 OLYMPIC GAMES
Dr hab. Michał Kobierecki works at the Department of Theory of Foreign Policy and Security Studies at the Faculty of International and Political Studies, University of Lodz as an Associate Professor. His research interests include the relationship between sports and politics and sports diplomacy. Our political scientist took part in a research trip to Erasmus University Rotterdam, where, together with a historian Prof. Gijsbert Oonek, he analysed the participation of athletes born in Russia and Belarus in the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 in the representations of other countries, taking into account the exclusion of Russia and Belarus.
During the two-week stay, we managed to define the research problem and the study objectives. We also outlined the theoretical framework and began analysing the empirical data. Some of the information was available to Prof. Oonk, while the rest was obtained from the International Olympic Committee
– explains dr hab. Michał Kobierecki.
The preliminary results confirm the assumptions that the number of athletes born in Russia and Belarus in other teams at the Olympic Games in Paris in 2024 has significantly increased compared to the Games in which Russia and Belarus were allowed to participate.
A jointly prepared publication, as well as more of those planned will be the most direct effect of the cooperation. Both professors also discussed the possibility of jointly applying for research grants, so in the future, Michał Kobierecki's trip may also bring financial benefits for the University of Lodz.
An important aspect of this type of research is its internationalisation in the research dimension and interdisciplinarity. Our researcher notes that:
In contemporary science, international cooperation is rightly considered an important issue, which enables the exchange of skills, experiences and perspectives between researchers from different centres and representing different scientific disciplines. The joint reflection of the historian and political scientist on the methodology and theoretical framework resulted in valuable supplements to the perspectives.
Both researchers expressed their readiness to continue their research, which will contribute to the creation of new publications affiliated with the University of Lodz and the development of the participants’ scientific careers.
Nowadays, researchers are expected to be mobile and cooperate with other centres around the world. My UNIC trip to Erasmus University Rotterdam filled this gap in my scientific CV
– notes Prof. Kobierecki.
The trip to Erasmus University – the highest-ranking university among the UNIC Alliance partners – was also an opportunity for our researcher to get to know the organisational culture of a foreign university and establish numerous scientific contacts. The knowledge and experience gained in this regard will help the University of Lodz implement good administrative practices, and intensive networking will result in further international projects.
My stay in Rotterdam, apart from my research experience, also allowed me to observe in practice a slightly different system of work that prevails at the university. In particular, it is about dividing the semester into teaching blocks that include intensive classes in a given subject, but only for a few weeks, after which there is a course completion
– concludes the scientist.
Dr hab. Michał Kobierecki went on a research trip to Rotterdam from 14 to 29 September 2024. Erasmus University Rotterdam (Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication, Department of History) was the host institution.
