August 2025 with ISG the athlete without vacation, CSR as a tool for change, and the perspective of systemic reforms
Does a professional athlete have the right to rest? Can social responsibility in sport be more than just a marketing slogan? Can a research report influence public debate and policy?
In August 2025, the Institute for Sport Governance team addressed these and many other questions that still remain outside the mainstream of sports discussions in Poland and Europe. It was a month in which we not only diagnosed challenges but above all showed that concrete solutions are possible—solutions based on data, experience, and cooperation.
Social protection for athletes: a systemic gap that must be filled
At the center of our activities was the issue of social protection for elite athletes, particularly those who live on sports scholarships. In August, we published a series of analyses based on the results of the SOPROS research project, in which ISG acts as a knowledge partner. We paid particular attention to issues of access to paid vacation, sickness benefits, and parental rights.
In Poland, most athletes are not employed under an employment contract. This means they are not entitled to basic rights arising from the labor code—such as annual leave, sick pay, or maternity benefits. In cases of injury or pregnancy, athletes depend on the decisions of coaches and sports federations rather than on a predictable, protective system.
We highlighted, among other things, that:
- the period of receiving a sports scholarship does not count toward unemployment benefit entitlements;
- in many cases, the amount of the scholarship is lower than the minimum wage;
- the absence of sick leave and parental leave puts athletes in a far more precarious position than other workers.
CSR as a social investment – inspirations from India and world sailing
In August, we also examined international best practices in the field of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in sport.
The first case was an analysis of the report “CSR and Sports in India – The First Decade”, which shows how the approach to financing sport has changed under the statutory obligation to allocate funds to social activities. Although the share of sport in total CSR funding in India had long been marginal (an average of 1.4%), 2022/23 brought a record increase—to 1.75%. The value of investments in CSR-related sports initiatives reached €58 million.
The second example came from the sailing sector. The “World Sailing Impact Report 2024” proves that it is possible to run professional sport while simultaneously caring for the environment, inclusivity, and local community development. Examples of initiatives include:
- introducing electric-powered racing boats,
- using smart GPS buoys instead of anchoring to protect marine ecosystems,
- running sailing development programs for women and people with disabilities.
Both cases show that CSR in sport can—and should—be treated as a long-term social investment rather than merely a branding tool.
Local initiatives and development programs
At the national level, August was also a month of actively supporting local initiatives. We provided informational support for the launch of the Handball Academy certification program and the nationwide tournament “Handball on the Orlik”. We also ran an information campaign around the FEMCoach program—a European training initiative for women coaches in youth sport.
In our publications, we also highlighted the importance of digitalization in managing local sport. We pointed out that a lack of digital skills and technological tools continues to block many clubs and organizations from growing—despite the availability of funding and ready-made solutions.
We support the idea of territorial development through sport, where digitalization, entrepreneurship, and local innovation become the driving force not only for the development of sport but also for entire communities.
Real impact of our actions
The August activities of ISG had a clearly defined impact on various stakeholder groups:
- athletes gained access to data and analyses that can help them fight for better social conditions,
- women coaches from Poland gained the opportunity to participate in an international professional development program,
- policymakers and officials received concrete arguments for working on systemic solutions,
- sports organizations were able to learn from examples of CSR and digitalization best practices in Europe and worldwide.
Thank you for being with us!
