Ravensbourne University London lecturer speaks about Paris Olympics at reputable symposium on sports and society
Dr. Danielle Coombs, Associate Business Professor at Ravensbourne University London, was recently invited to speak at the prestigious McGarr Symposium on sports and society, hosted by the Centre for Sports Communication & Media at The University of Texas at Austin.
The symposium was organised to discuss the publication of Olympic and Paralympic Analysis 2024: Mega Events, Media, and the Politics of Sport, which featured contributions from more than 100 leading scholars worldwide.
Danielle Coombs quote
Sport provides a critical opportunity for people around the world to come together to celebrate a shared experience. From the Olympics’ opening ceremony to the closing events of the Paralympic Games, the world tunes in to see the greatest athletes in each of their sports compete, best against best. It’s compelling, it’s powerful, and it’s an incredible platform to examine broader social issues that are reflective of the political climate.”
Dr. Coombs was part of a distinguished panel alongside Dr. Alina Bernstein, Dr. Michael Devlin, and Dr. Daniel Jackson. Together, they explored the media and political narratives surrounding the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Beyond her participation at the symposium, Dr. Coombs has been making significant contributions to sports media scholarship. In February, she published Media, Communication and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, an in-depth analysis of how the landmark tournament in Australia and New Zealand was represented across various media platforms. She is also set to release another book this month, Politics, Social Issues and the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will explore themes of power structures, inequality, and identity in women’s football.
Her work continues to shape critical discussions at the intersection of sport, media, and society. This reinforces the importance of Ravensbourne’s collaborative community, which is strengthened by the synergy between students, academics, and industry professionals.
For more updates on Dr. Coombs’ research and publications, visit her academic profile and look out for her interview under our new ‘Built for Industry’ series in due course.