SportBusiness is inviting entries for its 2023 Future of Sport essay competition.
We are seeking an original essay about the future of sport.
What does the fan of the future look like? How will we watch sport in 2050? What does climate change mean for sport? And will sport ever be played in space?
The exact question is up to you, so pick a topic you will love writing about.
We are looking for thought-provoking essays that challenge what we assume about the future of sport. Your essay should be well-argued and well-written, leaving us wanting to read more.
We look forward to receiving entries from around the world and across the sports industry.
Who can enter?
The SportBusiness essay competition is open to anyone. It is a global competition, so we encourage entries from anywhere in the world. Find full competition rules and frequently asked questions below.
How to enter
Write your 1,500-word essay.
Submit your essay by email to essay@sportbusiness.com.
You will receive confirmation that your submission has been received.
Submissions must be received by 1pm (GMT) Friday October 27, 2023.
Judges
Essays will be judged by the SportBusiness editorial panel.
Prizes
The following prizes will be awarded:
- The overall winner will receive £500, an annual subscription to SportBusiness.com and their essay will feature in the print and digital edition of the Long Game.
- Two runners-up will receive an annual subscription to SportBusiness.com and their essays will feature in the digital editions of the Long Game.
FAQs
Can I submit more than one essay?
No, each entrant may only submit one essay.
Will you be checking essays for plagiarism?
Yes. To ensure our competition is fair we run all submissions through our internal system to check for plagiarism. Your submission should be your own original, unpublished work. Any plagiarised submissions will be disqualified.
How will I know you have you received my essay?
You will receive a confirmation email once you submit your essay.
I have submitted my essay but noticed a mistake, what can I do?
All submissions are final. Once entries are in our system we cannot overwrite them.
We are looking for thought-provoking essays that challenge what we assume about the future of sport.
I missed the deadline, can I have an extension?
Our deadline is strict and we do not offer any extensions, no matter the circumstance.
When will I hear back about my entry?
Everyone who submits an essay will be informed of its outcome. We aim to announce all prize winners on December 1, 2023.
What is the maximum word count?
1,500 words.
Do titles count towards the word count?
No, titles are not included in the 1,500-word count.
Can you give me feedback on my essay?
No. As we expect to receive hundreds of entries this year, we do not have the capacity to provide feedback for each submission.
Where did I rank in the essay competition?
We do not ‘rank’ every entry we receive, and we are unable to provide individual feedback.
I missed the deadline, what can I do?
We pride ourselves on keeping our competition as fair as possible for all entrants, so we adhere to a strict deadline.
Rules
- The Essay Competition is offered by SportBusiness Group, The Record Hall, 16-16a Baldwins Gardens, London, EC1N 7AE.
- Essays must be 1,500 words or less, typed and in double line spacing, with the entrant’s full name at the bottom or top of each page, and be submitted in Word document or PDF format. Titles, references and footnotes are not included in the word count.
- Essays should be submitted via the email essay@sportbusiness.com.
- We will only accept essays in the following formats: .doc/.docx and .PDF.
- The essay must be the sole creation and original work of the entrant. The essay must not have been submitted to this or any other essay competition in previous years.
- Any form of plagiarism will result in automatic disqualification.
- Essays generated with the use of AI or chatbot systems such as ChatGPT or alike will result in automatic disqualification.
- Shortlisted entries will be approved to warrant that the entrant is eligible for the competition. This will be undertaken by the judges once they have a shortlist of the best essays.
- No person may submit more than one essay for each annual competition.
- The award winners grant SportBusiness the right to publish or reproduce at any time all or part of the award-winning entries.
- The award of all or any of the prizes lies solely within the discretion of the judges. The judges’ decision will be final.
- The deadline for the receipt of entries is 1pm (GMT) Friday October 27, 2023. Please note that late entries cannot be accepted under any circumstances.
- All entries will be acknowledged by email. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to provide feedback on unsuccessful entries.
- Winners are entitled to refer to the achievement on their CV and on social media.
- It is anticipated that the prize-winners will be announced on December 1, 2023. The decision of the CEO, SportBusiness Group on interpretation of these Rules will be final.