As Brisbane prepares to host the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, Griffith University is at the forefront of shaping how sport can drive social, cultural, and economic change.
Associate Professor Popi Sotiriadou, based at Griffith’s Gold Coast campus, is Australia’s top-ranked scholar for international collaboration in sport management. Her research focuses on boosting diversity, accessibility, and workforce sustainability in sport and events – areas critical to Australia’s tourism economy.
“My research directly addresses key industry challenges such as accessibility, sustainability, inclusion, youth engagement, and workforce development – all particularly relevant amid rising living costs and the lead-up to Brisbane 2032.”
With more than 17 years at Griffith, Sotiriadou is internationally recognised for delivering practical solutions that go beyond the scoreboard. She has partnered with leading organisations including the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS). Her collaborations with the Gold Coast Titans and the National Rugby League (NRL) through the LeagueAbility program stand out, creating structured, inclusive participation pathways for people with intellectual disabilities.
Shaping policy and practice
A hallmark of Sotiriadou’s career is her ARTN framework (Attraction, Retention, Transition, Nurturing), first introduced in 2008 and widely used in sport management worldwide. Now expanded to include performance optimisation, it underpins strategies in parasport inclusion, talent transfer, leadership development and global sport policy.
Her research has directly informed the Australian Sports Commission’s Play Well Win Well framework and shaped international initiatives such as the IOC Portrayal Guidelines, which ensure athletes are represented respectfully, regardless of gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation.
Real-world impact
Across Australia and abroad, Sotiriadou’s research is applied in multiple contexts:
- Disability inclusion: Co-designing the NRL LeagueAbility program, now scaling nationally.
- Gender equity: Supporting initiatives like Logan City Council’s Game On for Women Strategy and advancing global portrayal guidelines for female athletes.
- Olympic legacy planning: Developing volunteer models for Brisbane 2032 that improve retention and satisfaction.
- Coach wellbeing: Leading AIS research on mental health and sustainability for high-performance coaches.
- Athlete protection: Conducting cross-national studies into how retirement and unemployment policies shape athlete motivation.
- Sport technology: Advising platforms like PlayaPower and examining the ethical implications of performance-tracking technologies.
Her work consistently blends rigorous research with actionable insights, enabling governments, councils, clubs, and international federations to design systems that deliver real community benefits.
A personal turning point
Sotiriadou’s passion for inclusion and integrity stems from her own experiences as an athlete. Growing up in Alexandroupolis, Greece, she competed in yachting from an early age, winning the national 470s sailing championship at 18 and qualifying for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. But she was replaced following a backroom deal – a turning point that revealed the political dimensions of sport.
“That injustice left a lasting impact. It inspired my lifelong mission to create transparent, inclusive and fair sport systems that protect athletes and expand opportunities for all.”
Looking ahead
Sotiriadou is now leading a new Australian Research Council Linkage project with the NRL, developing sustainable pathways for people with disabilities in sport. She is also exploring how sport-technology innovation can align with Brisbane 2032 legacy planning.
“I’m excited to lead initiatives that ensure sport remains accessible, empowering, and future-focused,” she says.
Her work continues to bridge local and global arenas, from grassroots community projects with Logan City Council to collaborations with the IOC. Whether championing women in sport, protecting coaches’ wellbeing, or shaping inclusive talent pathways, her goal is clear: to unlock sport’s potential as a driver of social change.
Griffith at the Forefront
Through the Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT), Sotiriadou and her colleagues collaborate widely across tourism, events, and sport. GIFT is Australia’s leading tourism research institute – ranked in the top ten globally – specialising in areas from climate change resilience to the future of aviation and the visitor economy.
As Brisbane 2032 approaches, Griffith researchers like Sotiriadou are ensuring that sport leaves a legacy far beyond medals – one of inclusion, empowerment, and stronger communities.
Let’s work together
Griffith University, Griffith Institute for Tourism (GIFT) – We are Australia’s number 1 tourism research university (Top ten in the world) with an extensive team of tourism experts, including current and future PhD students, specialising in a wide range of areas impacting tourism including the visitor economy, climate change initiatives, resilient and sustainable tourism, the future of aviation, events and sport.
Contact us today to learn more.
