La Trobe University has academic experts available to talk to the media on a range of topics related to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Dr Geoff Dickson
Director, Centre for Sport and Social Impact, Australia
Contact: g.dickson@latrobe.edu.au or 0475 776 029
Expertise: Dr Dickson is a sport management academic, specialising in sport governance, sport marketing, and sport integrity.
Dr Dickson can discuss the following topics:
- Politics and geopolitics of the Olympics
- Sport scandals and controversies
- Future of the Olympics and mega-events
- International Olympic Committee – image, reputation and integrity
- Brisbane 2032
- Commercialisation, sponsorship and ambush marketing
- Athlete activism
- Medal trends analysis
- Performance enhancing drugs and drug testing
- Integrity
- Athlete safety/behaviour in the village
Dr Alana Thomson
Senior lecturer in sports management
Contact: a.thomson@latrobe.edu.au or 0402 486 646
Expertise: Dr Thomson is a senior lecturer in sports management. Dr Thomson’s research includes sport event legacies, such as the development of sporting facilities and infrastructure and women’s participation in sport.
Dr Thomson can discuss the following topics:
- The financial impact of hosting the Olympics, what price Paris will pay and how other cities suffered after hosting major sporting events such as Birmingham (UK) following the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
- What countries can afford to host such events?
- Will Brisbane be ready to host the 2032 Olympic Games?
- What infrastructure will Brisbane need to host the games?
- Is there enough time to build the infrastructure and accommodation needed to host the event?
Dr Joshua Heerey
Research Fellow at La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre
Contact: j.heerey@latrobe.edu.au or 0419 508 647
Expertise: Dr Heerey is a research fellow at La Trobe Sport and Exercise Medicine Research Centre. He is expert in hip and groin injuries.
Dr Heerey can discuss the following topics:
- Specific injuries
- Recovery techniques and timeframes
- Longer term impact of injuries
Dr Greg Dingle
Head of Sport Management
Contact: g.dingle@latrobe.edu.au or 0416 200 833
Expertise: Dr Dingle’s research focuses on climate impacts on sport and adaptation to climate. Dr Dingle can discuss the following topics:
- How climate change affects sport and sporting events such as the Olympics
- How sporting organisations can adapt to climate change
Dr Brigid McCarthy
Lecturer in journalism
Contact: b.mccarthy@latrobe.edu.au or 0413 511 582
Expertise: Dr McCarthy is a former sports journalist and radio presenter. Dr McCarthy has written about international artistic gymnastics for several sports publications and gymnastics federations, and hosted sports media programs for community radio.
Dr McCarthy can discuss the following topics:
- International artistic gymnastics
- Sports, fandom and social media
- Online abuse of athletes and the use of social media in sports coverage
Researcher, Centre for Sport and Social Impact, Australia
Contact: n.bahfen@latrobe.edu.au or 0450 141 049
Expertise: Dr Bahfen is a former journalist and producer whose research looks at sport, media and diversity. Dr Bahfen teaches reporting and sports media subjects in the Bachelor of Media and Communication.
Dr Bahfen can discuss the following topics:
- Athlete activism
- Cultural barriers to sporting participation
- Racism and digital racism in sport
- “Sportswashing”: Countries that use sports for example buying foreign clubs, hosting large scale events, or sponsoring sporting events for PR or marketing purposes to improve negative aspects of their reputations eg human rights records
- Gender in sport
Dr Merryn Sherwood
Senior lecturer in journalism
Contact: m.sherwood@latrobe.edu.au or 0438 699 522
Expertise: Dr Sherwood is a senior lecturer in journalism. Dr Sherwood is a former journalist and sport media manager, working at events such as the Rugby World Cup and London 2012 Olympic Games. Dr Sherwood’s research focuses broadly on change and disruption in media, with a focus on sports media, gender in media and changing work in media and sport industries.
Dr Sherwood can discuss the following topics:
- International sport media management
- Sports organisations’ move to become media producers
- Sport media and gender
- Media disruption and change
Contact details:
Elaine Cooney
E.Cooney@latrobe.edu.au
0487 448 734
