14 June 2018: University of Canberra experts have you covered on all angles of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
- Why do footballers miss penalties in shoot-outs? And why do some of the world’s best players fail to perform on the big stage? Sports psychologist Dr Richard Keegan can speak about the psychology behind athletes’ decisions.
- Food intake is just as important to an athlete’s performance as their on-field preparation. Dietitian in Residence Lisa Donaldson can advise what players should be eating during the tournament to perform their best.
- With the Video Assistant Referee system set to make its World Cup debut in Russia, Associate Dean of Research (Science and Technology) Dr Roland Goecke can explain why players and fans shouldn’t expect technology to be perfect.
- What’s the business case for hosting a major global sporting event? Is the investment in stadiums and infrastructure matched by increased visitor numbers and spending? Economics expert Professor Phil Lewis can discuss what the high cost of hosting football’s pre-eminent tournament means to a country’s economy. Professor Lewis can also explain the economics of footballers’ pay and why players’ salaries, sometimes millions of dollars a year, have increased so much.
- The prestige of hosting a global sporting tournament is not the only reason countries place importance on winning major event bids. An event like the FIFA World Cup increases a nation’s visibility and boosts its tourism potential, potentially for years after the final ball has been kicked. Dr Naomi Dale, a tourism expert, can discuss the flow-on effects that these events have on a country’s tourism industry.
University of Canberra sports media students will be providing comprehensive coverage of the tournament on the University’s School of Journalism website, NowUC. The coverage is part of a specially-created Winter Term unit aimed at providing aspiring sports journalists with experience covering a major sporting event. Journalism lecturer Simon Brady can comment on this project.
Contact the University of Canberra media team:
Antony Perry: 0434 795 919
Claudia Doman: 0408 826 362