The North-West University (NWU), in collaboration with the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), was awarded the bid to host the prestigious World Association of Sport Management (WASM) conference in March 2026.
The conference is hosted every three years, and this will be the fifth conference, hosted for the first time on African soil.
The NWU and CPUT plan to co-host the WASM conference at the Newlands Stadium, where the CPUT Sport Management Department offices and lecture halls are located.
Prof Liandi van den Berg, associate professor in sport business management at the NWU and conference bid committee chair and initiator of the South African bid proposal, says she is elated about the news which is a great achievement for both institutions.
"The successful bid is the culmination of hard work and collaboration between the two academic institutions, and I commend my CPUT colleague Prof Brendon Knott for his dedication and input.
“I envisioned the NWU hosting an international conference to unite sport management experts and researchers worldwide to share their knowledge and ideas in a collaborative and engaging South African environment. This vision is one step closer to being realised in partnering with CPUT,” she says.
“Our bid against two other countries received support from the Office of the Western Cape Premier, Western Cape Government Sport and Recreation Department, WESGRO Cape Town and Western Cape Tourism, Trade and Investment, as well as Cricket South Africa. We are looking forward to other entities joining forces with us to make this a memorable and valuable opportunity to spotlight innovative ideas and solutions to sport management challenges,” she adds.
Prof Van den Berg says the Newlands Stadium is a unique conference venue, and the national and international delegates will be treated to the best of Cape Town’s social events, sightseeing and surrounding recreational activities as part of the high-quality academic programme.
“The conference usually attracts around 300 delegates from 40 countries. The engagement of global experts in sport management with our own sport industry leaders, academic and research experts, as well as students will benefit and strengthen the overall South African sport context,” she says.
