WESP – Rise, Significance and Decline of a Research Community (2025)

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Centre of Expertise Health Innovation

WESP voetbalspelers

Not long ago, “the WESP” was a well-known name in the world of sports events. The WESP (Working Group for the Evaluation of Sports Events) was an authoritative body in both sports research and sports policy. Almost all universities of applied sciences in the sports domain actively participated in the WESP and conducted research according to its guidelines. Yet, in 2019, the WESP ceased to exist. How could such a valuable initiative—once widely supported—collapse just ten years later? And what lessons can sports universities, now united in the Sprong-PASS project, learn from this? This case study explores these questions.

Research

This case study consisted of interviews and document analyses. Eleven interviews were conducted with individuals involved in the WESP between 2009 and 2019 (six researchers and five policymakers). In addition, research reports, policy documents, and meeting notes from WESP gatherings were analyzed.

Duration

This project runs from March till October 2025

Result

A report on the case study was completed in October 2025 (in Dutch):  De WESP. Opkomst, betekenis en teloorgang van een onderzoekscommunity. The findings will be discussed within the Sprong-PASS framework in 2026.

Funding

This project is funded by SPRONG-PASS.

Team

Koen Breedveld, research group Impact of Sport

Contact

Koen Breedveld ([email protected])