The Unified Through Basketball project offers two informative seminars. The first will delve into the latest research on social inclusion in sport, while the second will explore the important topic of multicultural coaching. We look forward to welcoming participants from all backgrounds and sports!
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Latest Research on Social Inclusion in Sport webinar
Date: Friday, May 16, 2025
Time: 10:00–11:15 (UTC+3)
Speakers: Dr. Anni Reuter, University of Helsinki & Jatta Muhonen, Doctoral student at University of Helsinki
Anni Reuter works as a researcher at the Centre for Research on Ethnic Relations and Nationalism (CEREN), at the University of Helsinki. She has done research on ethnic minorities, inclusion, and racism. Most recently in the project Integration and Empowerment: Organized Sports and Newcomers in Finland, which she will discuss in the seminar.
The two–year project (1.1.2023–31.12.2024) intends to examine the link between opportunities for involvement in organized sport and social integration of newcomers in Finnish society. We are specifically interested in how such a participation can contribute to individual and collective empowerment of persons with a migrant background. Sport is said to offer immigrants a wide range of integration potentials, thus opening ways for newcomers to gain a foothold in society. However, some social groups due to gender, ethnicity, religion, or socio-economic background are held back from joining sport clubs. We will investigate the integration prospects of organized sports from a structural and an individual perspective.
Jatta Muhonen is a doctoral researcher in the Doctoral Programme in Population Health at the University of Helsinki. A former athlete in synchronized skating, her research focuses on how athletic identity shapes athletes’ readiness to recognise and respond to emotional abuse by coaches. Her work forms the foundation of a wider research project, which she will present at the seminar. Jatta holds degrees in psychology and performance psychology from the Universities of Dundee and Edinburgh, and currently also works in Finland as a safeguarding officer and performance psychology practitioner. Additionally, she has pioneered athlete transition and retirement programmes in Finnish sports.
In recent years, the issue of athlete abuse has consistently captured public attention in Finland. The research project titled "Athlete Wellbeing, Mistreatment, and Legal Protection" takes a comprehensive multidisciplinary and multi-method approach to examine this issue in depth. The project focuses on athletes’ experiences of various forms of abuse, with particular emphasis on emotional/psychological abuse, as it is the most common but least studied and recognised form of abuse in sports. Specifically, the project focuses on the underlying factors that contribute to or perpetuate abuse in sports. These factors may include the athlete’s own athletic identity, a lack of comprehensive understanding of all forms of abuse, insufficient regulations, and ineffective legal protections. Additionally, the project explores the prevalence of abuse within athlete-coach relationships, examining its various forms and the impact it has on athletes' wellbeing.
Cross-Cultural Coaching webinar
Date: Friday, May 23, 2025
Time: 10:00–11:15 (UTC+3)
Speaker: Dr. Riku Laanti, Cross-Cultural Management and Communications Specialist
Riku Laanti has provided cross-cultural coaching programs and training to coaches, athletes, sports managers and referees in various different sports. This has included participation in the Finnish Football Associations UEFA Pro program, training for FIBA’s Nordic referees, running sessions to the Finnish Basketball National Team, teaching in several different Finnish Sports Institutes and university level Sports Management programs in Finland and internationally, and consulting individual coaches and athletes about the topic.
Riku holds a PhD in International Business and Strategy, an MSc in International Business and an MBA in Finance. He has held senior management positions in Finland and internationally since 1992 and has worked with people from over 50 countries. He has provided consulting and training services to government organizations and multinational companies in a wide range of industries, including chemicals, education and research, energy, media and sports, to name a few.
A former basketball player, Riku spent 10 years in Finland’s top league and competed internationally with the Finnish national team at both senior and junior levels, including appearances in European club competitions. He holds a Level II Basketball Coaching Certificate and currently coaches junior teams at ToPoLa.
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