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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Vol. 3, No. 1 of the e-journal Sports Law, Policy & Diplomacy Journal published
In September 2025, a new issue of the e-journal Sports Law, Policy & Diplomacy Journal was published. In vol. 3, no. 1, 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…
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Faculty of Law in Rijeka hosted the 1st session of the UEFA Football Law Program
In the week of 22-26 September 2025, the Faculty of Law in Rijeka hosted the first session of the sixth edition of the UEFA Football Law Programme, which was held in Zagreb. The session was led by Assoc. Prof. Vanja Smokvina, as the session director and member of the scientific board of the programme. The…
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8th Rijeka Sports Law, Sports Policy and Sports Diplomacy Days Held
From 4 to 8 July 2025, the 8th edition of the Rijeka Sports Law, Sports Policy and Sports Diplomacy Dayswas held at the University of Rijeka, Faculty of Law. On Friday, 4 July 2025, the Jean Monnet International Conference was held, which was opened with welcoming speeches by: Interim Vice-Rector for Studies, Students, and QA…
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A new book on The European Model of Sport published
The book The European Model of Sport – Myth or Reality? was published by the prestigious international publisher Routledge (Taylor&Francis) at the end of June 2025. The editors of the book are Dr. Borja Garcia (Loughborough University, UK) and Assoc. Prof. dr. Vanja Smokvina, from our Faculty.The book is the result of work within the…
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Conference on the social and legal protection of athletes in Europe held in Zagreb on 25. 4. 2025
On Friday 25 April 2025 in Zagreb (Hotel Academia), in a hybrid way, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia, an international conference “Social and legal protection of athletes in Europe: through national practice to European coordination” was organised by the Faculty of Law of the University…
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Jean Monnet Summer School 2023
The Jean Monnet Summer School of EU Sports Law, Sports Policies and Sports Diplomacy was held from 5 to 7 September 2023 during the 7th Rijeka Days of Sports Law, Sports Policies and Sports Diplomacy. The event was organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of the Republic of Croatia and with the…