Griffith conference to tackle crime and sport

Head and shoulders of James Skinner, Griffith University
Professor James Skinner says a crime and sport conference at Griffith University is timely.

At the end of a controversy-plagued AFL season and an NRL campaign not without its issues, a Sport and Crime Conference to be hosted by Griffith University on Monday is perfectly timed.

The one-day event, running from 9am to 3pm at the Gold Coast campus, also comes near the end of a year when Australian cycling stalwart Stuart O’Grady admitted to doping and at the end of a month when a soccer match-fixing syndicate may have been unearthed in Victoria.

“This is a growing area of community concern,” Professor James Skinner, head of Griffith’s Department of Tourism, Sport and Hotel Management, says.

“The need to combat the issues involved is more and more apparent and will require the involvement and cooperation of different agencies and organisations.”

Damian Voltz from the National Integrity of Sport Unit will deliver the opening address on Monday morning before a wide range of presentations runs the gamut of sport and crime.

Among them will be Richard Redman, former Director of Legal Services, ASADA, and current legal counsel to Cronulla Sharks who will offer a practical legal perspective on doping in sport.

Griffith University’s Terry Engelberg will be joined by University of Canberra’s Stephen Moston to discuss psychological profiling of elite athletes intending to use performance enhancing drugs.

Ellen Bloxsome, also from Griffith, will evaluate off-field behaviours in sports news.

Matthew Dunn, Deakin University, will explore how gambling and sport can be framed as a public health issue, and Bob Stewart, Victoria University, will make the case for the re-regulation of drug use in Australian sport.

“These threats to the integrity of sport cause significant damage to the sports industry, with consequences such as reduced attendances at sporting events and reduced sponsorship among some of the most pressing concerns,” Professor Skinner said.

Monday’s conference will showcase some of the latest Australian research on crime in sport, and the issues that will affect the emerging research agenda.

It is sponsored by the Department of Tourism, Hotel and Sport Management and the Centre for Tourism, Sport and Service Research.

WHEN: Monday, September 30, 9am to 3pm

WHERE: Griffith University, Gold Coast campus, Arts and Education 1 (G30), Room 1.09.

PROGRAM: Click here.