Ohio University's fifth annual Sports in Africa Symposium, Communication
Media and Sport in Africa will be today and tomorrow in Grover Center.
The event will feature panels on issues like sport and development, sport and new technology and local sports media and traditions.
Judy McPherson, former deputy director of UNICEF and founder of the non-profit corporation Play Soccer, will deliver the keynote address today in Walter Hall. McPherson was chosen because of her work in the classroom and field.
She's working in five countries in Africa and she's been doing work with sport and diplomacy said Gerard Akindes, coordinator of the conference. She brings a perspective of what people are trying to do in Africa (with sport and media).
McPherson's projects include creating soccer programs that target children and involve older people in the community as coaches. She has received grants through the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) that support her work, said Akindes.
The conference committee accepted 20 research papers from the 30 that were submitted as potential topics. The majority of authors are professors from other universities, but four OU graduate students will also present at the conference.
This year marks the beginning of the dialogue about the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Four papers that specifically examine the relationship between the upcoming World Cup and the media will be discussed tomorrow morning.
The motivation for the conference is to talk about Africa and bring another angle to sport
the social ' something beyond business
Akindes said.
17
Archives
Ashley Luthern
