The Institute aims to encompass scientific research and professional work in three areas: sports law, sports policy, and sports diplomacy. This emphasizes its uniqueness globally, as there’s no other academic unit covering these three areas of interest. The Institute primarily conducts scientific research and professional projects, produces scientific and professional expertise, organizes scientific and professional conferences, roundtable discussions, and science popularization activities. It also organizes and conducts lifelong learning programs such as summer and/or winter schools and professional development programs, collaborates with public bodies, businesses, and the non-profit sector, and participates in sports arbitration and mediation procedures. The Head of the Institute is Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vanja Smokvina.
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Conference Women, children and young people in sports – protection of elementary human rights was held on 29-05-2026
The traditional event, the 9th Rijeka Day of Sports Law, Sports Policies and Sports Diplomacy, was held at the Faculty of Law in Rijeka on Friday, May 29, 2026, with the International Scientific Conference “Women, Children and Youth in Sport – Protection of Elementary Human Rights“. The conference was organized by the Institute of Sports…
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Vol. 3, No. 2 of the e-journal Sports Law, Policy & Diplomacy Journal published
In December 2025, a new issue of the e-journal Sports Law, Policy & Diplomacy Journal was published. In vol. 3, no. 2, a total of 5 papers of the following authors and titles have been published: This e-journal is published by our Faculty, through the Institute of Sports Law, Sports Policies and Sports Diplomacy and the Jean…
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A Special Event with Slaven Bilić
On Thursday 18 December 2025, a Special Event with Slaven Bilić, the famous former football player, coach and TV presenter and commentator, was held in the crowded Faculty’s Blue Room. The event started by celebrating the 35th anniversary of the match between Croatia and the USA on 17 October 1990 in Zagreb (the first match of the Croatian national team) and the second match played on 22 December 1990 at Kantrida in…
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The fifth Jean Monnet Students’ Sports Law Conference Held
On Monday, December 15, 2025, the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Law, through the Institute of Sports Law, Sports Policies and Sports Diplomacy and the Jean Monnet Chair for EU Sports Law, Policy and Sports Diplomacy, in cooperation with the Edge Hill University (UK) Centre for Sports Law Research and the Jean Monnet Chair for…
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Lecture held at the prestigious SBS program, 25-11-2025
On 25-11-2025. Assoc. Prof. Vanja Smokvina held an invited lecture at the prestigious graduate program in sports management – Master SBS in Treviso (Italy). This is a program jointly launched by Verde Sport (Benetton Group) and Università Ca’ Foscari Venezia. The lecture was on the topic of EU Sports Law with an emphasis on athletes’…
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The final workshop was held on the social status of athletes in Olympic sports
On Thursday, 30 October 2025, a workshop on the social status of athletes in Olympic sports was held at the headquarters of the Croatian Volleyball Federation in Zagreb. The workshop was organised by the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Law and its Institute for Sports Law, Sports Policies and Sports Diplomacy – the head of…