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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The social impact of the SLPD Institute activities
After the Faculty’s Institute of Sports Law, Sports Policies, and Sports Diplomacy held an Event on November 11, 2024, at the Rijeka City Hall in honor of the “Rijeka Olympian Abdon Pamich“—highlighting his life story as a native of Rijeka who, at the age of 14 and accompanied by his brother (two years older), left…
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The Event on “Football and Sports Diplomacy” held on 11-06-2026
On June 11, 2026, coinciding with the UN International Day of Play and the start of the FIFA World Cup, an Event on “Football and Sports Diplomacy” was held at the Faculty of Law in Rijeka. The event constitutes the second and final part of the traditional 9th Rijeka Day of Sports Law, Sports Policies…
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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…