International Conference
Building Bridges Across Boundaries – the Role of Cultural and Athletic Activities
30 October – 1 November 2026
National University of Ireland Maynooth
The conference is organised by Maynooth University Chinese Studies in collaboration with the Asia-Pacific Association of Sport Studies, the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, University College Cork Confucius Institute and Asian Journal of Sport History & Culture. The theme of the conference is: “Building Bridges Across Boundaries – The Role of Cultural and Athletic Activities in Diplomacy and Global Engagement.” Scholars and practitioners from multidisciplinary backgrounds will gather in Maynooth to explore key issues and highlight the latest developments in their respective fields.
Key Themes
- Cross-cultural communication and understanding
- Cultural heritage and identity
- Tourism and cultural exchange
- Diplomacy through cultural activities
- Sports diplomacy and soft power
- Educational and cultural exchange programmes, and people-to-people connections
- Legal and ethical aspect of cultural exchange activities
Call for Papers:
We invite submissions from scholars and researchers working across disciplines including (but not limited to) cultural studies, sports studies, international relations, sociology, tourism, and media studies.
Abstracts (250–300 words) should clearly outline the research topic, methodology, and relevance to the conference theme.
Important Dates
Abstract submission deadline: 30 July 2026
Notification of acceptance: 31 August 2026
Submission Details
Please submit your abstract (250 words) along with a short biographical note to: apas00@outlook.com
Further Information
Selected papers may be considered for publication in an edited volume or special issue of Asian Journal of Sport History & Culture (subject to peer review).
Asia-Pacific Association of Sport Studies 
Leave a comment