Hi,

Apologies for cross-posting.

The following details are also in the Word attachment included with this
e-mail. Join us after the 2000 Olympics to discuss issues surrounding sport
generated tourism.

Regards

Brent.


SPORT GENERATED TOURISM: EXPLORING THE NEXUS

A symposium to be staged by the University of Canberra, Australia, 6-8
October 2000.

CALL FOR INITIAL EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Commercial forms of leisure have grown in variety and importance around the
world. Central to this trend have been two recreational genres, tourism and
sport, both of which have become major industries in their own right.
Tourism has been accelerated by the advent of the jet age: the scope and
frequency of international travel has advanced considerably, with
holiday-makers now comprising a significant proportion of passengers.
Elite-level sports, too, have undergone a revolution in scale by providing
a two-fold spectacle for crowds in the playing arena and audiences watching
television.

Curiously, though, we have little understanding about the nature and extent
of tourism generated by the staging and promotion of sporting events. This
seems all the more puzzling when we consider that in terms of television
audiences the two most 'watched' cultural events are soccer's World Cup and
the Olympic Games, and that regions hosting these spectacles draw hundreds
of thousands of tourists from around the world. By staging the symposium
'Sport-Generated Tourism' a range of unresolved issues can be tabled, such
as: what are the links between sport and tourism?; how can the dynamics
between sport and tourism be gauged empirically?; how have globalising
forces shaped the market for sport-generated tourism?; and how might
socio-political factors, such as corruption in sport, affect tourist demand
to travel abroad and attend sporting events?

The symposium will examine linkages and interrelationships between sport
and tourism with papers and discussion helping to shape future research
agendas in the area of sport generated tourism. It is anticipated that this
cross-disciplinary symposium will include key note speeches and panel
discussion as well as paper presentations focussing on both global and
local issues related to sport-generated tourism. The symposium will
therefore be of interest to sport and tourism academics and practitioners
world-wide, as well as people in the fields of management, marketing,
geography, sociology, and technology.

SYMPOSIUM HOST
This symposium will be hosted by the Centre for Sports Studies, University
of Canberra, and the Co-operative Research Centre for Sustainable Tourism
(ACT Node).

SYMPOSIUM ORGANISERS
Mr Brent Ritchie, Lecturer in Tourism, University of Canberra
Ms Raveena Singh, Lecturer in Public Relations, University of Canberra
Dr Daryl Adair, Lecturer in Sports Humanities, University of Canberra

Preferred themes and sub themes for the symposium are as follows:

SPORT AND TOURISM: THE LINK. We seek papers that identify and discuss
practical and theoretical links between sport and tourism, and that
establish research paradigms for the study of sport-generated tourism.

SPORT AND TOURISM: MANAGEMENT AND MARKETING. We seek papers that examine
the management and marketing of sport in the interests of tourism. Topics
may include sports funding, sponsorship, and merchandising, as well as
issues of safety and security at sporting events and how they impact on
tourism.

SPORTING MEGA-EVENTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON SOCIETY.  We seek papers that
address the social, economic and environmental impacts of sporting
mega-events, such as the Olympics, with particular reference to costs and
benefits associated with tourism.

ETHICAL AND POLITICAL DIMENSIONS OF SPORT. We seek papers that address
ethical and political factors in sport, such as drugs, corruption, and
human rights, and how these issues may impact upon tourist demand. Papers
that discuss how politics may affect the development of sport and tourism,
such as with bidding 'wars' between rival host cities, are also encouraged.

VIRTUAL SPECTATORS: SPORT, TOURISM AND THE MEDIA. We seek papers that
examine ways in which new technology and innovations, such as the internet
and pay television, have on sport-generated tourism. How important is media
imagery and advertising in sport for the purposes of generating tourism?
Or, from another perspective, are we seeing the ascendancy of 'virtual', as
opposed to 'face-to-face' fan behaviour via electronic images of sports
stars and live broadcasts of sporting events?

FUTURE OF SPORT AND TOURISM. What will sport-generated tourism look like in
the future? This may include papers that examine sport-tourism partnerships
and the potential symbiosis between the future development of sport and
tourism.

PUBLICATION OF PAPERS
In addition to publication of the symposium proceedings, papers presented
will be considered for a book that will examine the nexus between Sport and
Tourism.

SYMPOSIUM SIGHT-SEEING
Canberra has an array of sporting, cultural, and natural heritage
attractions within a short distance from the city centre. Tours of the
Australian Institute of Sport, Australian National Gallery, Parliament
House and the Australian War Memorial are recommended. Also highly
recommended is a tour of the Canberra wine region with award winning
National Capital Wine Tours. Delegates interested in Australia's natural
environment are encouraged to visit Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve or Namadgi
National Park, which are located within thirty minutes drive of the city.
For information on the host city, Canberra, please click on this link:
http://www.project2000.act.gov.au/html/about_canberra.htm

WEB SITES OF INTEREST:
-Australian Tourist Commission http://www.aussie.net.au/
-Australia Travel http://www.anzac.com/aust/aust.htm
-The Sydney Olympics http://www.sydney.olympic.org/
-Canberra Tourism http://www.canberratourism.com.au/

SYMPOSIUM REGISTRATION
To register your interest, or for general enquires or offers of papers
please either E-mail:  [log in to unmask]

OR: send your registration of interest, enquires or offers of papers to:

Sport and Tourism Symposium Organisers
School of Information Management and Tourism
University of Canberra
ACT 2601
Australia

Further information including accommodation, venues, registration fee, and
keynote speakers will follow this initial call for expressions of interest
in August/September 1999.




Brent Ritchie
Lecturer in Tourism
CRC For Sustainable Tourism Researcher -ACT Node

Division of Communication and Education
University of Canberra
Belconnen 2601 ACT
AUSTRALIA

E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Phone & Voice: +61 2  6201 2647
Fax: +61 2  6201 2649