Simon Chadwick

Jan 1, 2025 | cityam.com | Simon Chadwick

|  Professor Simon Chadwick explains why Morocco, Saudi Arabia and the United States are his three countries to watch in sport in 2025. With the global sport industry apparently set to continue on its growth trajectory in 2025, albeit in the context of uncertain geopolitical times, many countries across the world will find themselves jockeying for a position of power and influence.

Dec 20, 2024 | theconversation.com | Simon Chadwick

The official announcement that Saudi Arabia would host the 2024 Fifa men’s World Cup came as a surprise to nobody. Hosting rights have been on the country’s geopolitical agenda for many years, and football’s international governing body was more than happy to oblige. Both parties have come in for heavy criticism as a result. A joint statement from 21 campaign groups, including Amnesty International, accused Fifa of making “empty human rights commitments”.

Aug 2, 2024 | theconversation.com | Simon Chadwick |Paul Widdop

Since the Olympic Games in Paris began, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, has posted the statement “This is France!” several times on his social media platforms. Macron has been implicitly asserting that he is delivering on his personal vision of the event, and of France. Since his election in 2017, he has sought to project a diverse, cosmopolitan and outward-facing France while at the same time strengthening existing preconceptions of its style, culture and history.

Jul 12, 2024 | theconversation.com | Simon Chadwick |Paul Widdop

After more than four weeks and 51 football matches, Euro 2024 draws to a close with its total audience again likely to have exceeded 5 billion live viewers. Europe’s premier international football tournament has certainly retained its global appeal, but its overall report card presents a rather more mixed picture for the continent – of fading glories and harsh realities. The most recognisable symbol of waning strength has been Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo.

Jun 3, 2024 | econotimes.com | Simon Chadwick |Paul Widdop

The 2024 Uefa Champions League final could be described as the perfect match for football purists, with fan-owned Real Madrid against Borussia Dortmund, where supporters have a majority ownership stake. Unlike last year’s event, neither side is owned by a Gulf state or massive foreign corporation. Instead we have a Spanish team which boasts nearly 100,000 “socios” – fan owners who pay an annual fee which entitles them to vote on who runs the club, and the decisions it makes.