In addition to the keynotes, four thematic workshops will offer space for in-depth discussion and practical exchange. Each workshop is led by experienced professionals or organisations and addresses one of the four subthemes—ranging from mental health in elite sports to sustainability in university settings. Participants are invited to actively contribute and collaboratively explore innovative approaches and solutions.
In the workshop "Safe Sports", Kim Bui addresses the mental challenges athletes face under extreme performance pressure. Drawing on her own experiences with injuries, eating disorders, and the psychological demands of elite competition, she offers an authentic perspective on those topics. As a systemic coach, she shares strategies to strengthen mental resilience and highlights the importance of integrating psychological support into athletic training—fostering a safer and more mindful approach to high-performance sport.
Subtheme: Mental health and performance under pressure among athletes
Place & Time: Thursday, 17 July, 15:15-16:30, Pumpenhaus
Kim Bui
Kim Bui is a renowned German artistic gymnast, author, coach, and speaker. With a career spanning 23 years in the German national team, she is a three-time Olympian and thirteen-time German champion, making her one of the most enduring athletes in German women's gymnastics. Despite injuries, including two ACL tears, she remained at the top of international competition well into her thirties. Beyond her athletic achievements, Bui is actively involved in promoting mental health awareness, drawing from her own experiences with performance pressure and bulimia, which she shares in her bestselling autobiography "45 Sekunden". Today, she contributes to the sport as a coach, competition moderator, and member of the IOC Athletes’ Commission.
Photo Credits: Heiko Potthoff
This workshop explores how vitality and resilience form the essential foundation for sustainable high performance – particularly for coaches, referees, and their support systems who operate in demanding and often high-pressure environments. By understanding the critical role of wellbeing, participants will learn why a clear, intentional wellbeing strategy is vital for effectively managing stress, maintaining focus, and optimizing recovery cycles. Such strategies not only help prevent burnout and injury but also cultivate mental toughness and emotional balance, ultimately leading to higher productivity, better results, and sustainable employability for all involved.
Through practical exercises and insights drawn from Esther’s experience and her vitality & well-being model, participants will gain concrete tools to strengthen resilience—not only for themselves but also for the coaches, referees, and entourage members they support. This session challenges common assumptions, promotes long-term wellbeing, and offers practical strategies to better support those at the heart of elite sport.
Subtheme: Balancing acts: work-life balance and resilience among coaches, referees and the entourage
Place & Time: Friday, 18 July, 10:30-11:45, Pumpenhaus
ESTHER AKIHARY VAN NOBELEN
Esther Akihary van Nobelen is a former Olympic athlete and a leading advisor on strategic health and vitality. With a strong background in both elite sport and organizational development, she specializes in helping organizations build sustainable foundations for employee health and wellbeing. From shaping strategies and writing policies to implementing wellbeing programs and coaching key personnel, Esther works closely with HR teams and project groups to create healthier, more productive, and future-proof workplaces. Esther's mission is to embed wellbeing in a way that is impactful, safe, and structurally integrated. Leading to more engaged employees, improved performance, and fewer sick days.
As an athlete, Esther represented the Netherlands at the highest level for over 15 years. She is a multiple national champion in sprinting events and won a silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the 2012 European Championships in Helsinki. She retired from athletics in 2017 and joined the board of the Royal Dutch Athletics Federation (Atletiekunie) in 2019. She now serves as Vice President of the Federation.
Internationally, Esther is a member of the Development Commission of European Athletics, where she contributes to initiatives around leadership and athlete wellbeing. Locally, she serves on the advisory board of Kempen in Beweging, a regional foundation focused on implementing governmental goals in sports and health.
In this interactive workshop, the German University Sports Federation (adh) presents best practices from the German university sports community with a focus on ecological sustainability. Led by Katharina Neumann (Head of Division Youth and Education), Lisa Jung (Project Manager Health), Leon Meyer (Project Staff Education & Sustainability) and Tim Schüßler (Event Coordinator Education & Health), the session explores how university sports can drive sustainable transformation on campus. Participants will engage with successful projects that integrate environmental responsibility into student life and athletic programming. Additionally, the workshop encourages reflection on international perspectives and the transferability of initiatives—supporting the development of ecologically resilient and environmentally conscious university communities.
Subtheme: Ecological sustainability on campus
Place & Time: Friday, 18 July, 16:30-17:45, Pumpenhaus
GERMAN UNIVERSITY SPORTS FEDERATION (ADH)
The German University Sports Federation (adh), founded in 1948, is the host of the Rhine-Ruhr 2025 FISU World University Games. More than 200 German universities and colleges, representing around 2.5 million students and 550,000 staff members, are members of the adh. The adh organizes national university sports competitions, coordinates the participation of German students in international sports events, conducts educational programs and training seminars, promotes health initiatives, and engages in public relations and advocacy work for university sports at both national and international levels. In doing so, the association operates at the intersection of academics, science and sport, and is committed to advancing university sports.
University sports programs serve as a vital platform for student development, offering opportunities for physical activity, teamwork, leadership, and personal growth. However, the nature and scope of these programs vary significantly across the globe, with some universities focusing on elite, competitive sports, while others emphasize sports for all. This diversity in approach raises important questions about the inclusivity of university sports: To what extent can or do these programs truly embrace inclusivity?
In today's increasingly diverse and globalized world, universities are home to students from a wide range of backgrounds, including differences in gender, ethnicity, religion, and ability. While sports have the power to unite and empower, they can also inadvertently exclude or marginalize those who do not fit into conventional expectations or norms. Therefore, ensuring that university sports are inclusive and accessible to all students is not just a matter of fairness but also essential for fostering a healthy and cohesive campus community.
This panel discussion seeks to explore the concept of inclusivity within the realm of university sports, asking critical questions about what it truly means to create an inclusive sports environment. Through both scientific inquiry and practical case studies, the discussion will focus on the participation of individuals from diverse backgrounds in university sports programs.
The panel will feature leading experts in the field:
Prof. Dr. Gudrun Doll-Tepper (Freie Universität Berlin), expert on inclusive education and sport for persons with disabilities
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rosa Diketmüller (University of Vienna), whose research focuses on diversity, gender, and SafeSport
Prof. Dr. Karin Volkwein-Caplan (West Chester University of Pennsylvania), specializing in cultural studies and diversity in sport
Kim Robins (Paralympian, Australia), an elite wheelchair basketball athlete and advocate for disability inclusion in sport.
The discussion will be moderated by Prof. Dr. Ruth Crabtree (Sheffield Hallam University, UK), a globally recognized academic leader in sport management and champion of social justice, equality, and inclusion in sport.
Subtheme: Health and well-being in sports and physical activity
Place & Time: Saturday, 19 July, 10:30-11:45, Pumpenhaus
INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF SPORT SCIENCE AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION (ICSSPE)
The International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education (ICSSPE) is a global network of organisations and institutions dedicated to advancing sport, physical education, and physical activity through science, education, and policy. Founded in 1958 and based in Berlin, Germany, ICSSPE brings together more than 150 member organisations from over 50 countries, including governmental bodies, NGOs, and academic institutions, creating the opportunity for interdisciplinary cooperation. ICSSPE's mission is to integrate research to enhance physical activity and sport, educate for improved quality of life and health for all people, and promote policies for active lifestyles, human performance, and good governance in physical activity and sport. ICSSPE is a leader in the global movement educating for sustainable quality of life for all through physical activity and sport.
