Jens De Rycke

Jens works as a PhD & scientific researcher at the Research Unit Sport & Society (Faculty of Physical Education and Physiotherapy) of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB). He has a masters’ degree Sport Management and a postgraduate degree Event Management. After graduating, he has gained his first academic experience through three research projects funded by the Flemish government. Specifically, two projects where about ethics in sport (ethical management in sports clubs & ethical decision making in sport), the third project examined the effectiveness of sport events promoting sport participation. His PhD started the end of 2014 and is about the Social Value of Elite Sport. His research is mainly concerned with the question of why nations should care about elite sport success, and therefore why they should invest in elite sport. Elite athletes presumed function as role models for todays youngsters takes a profound place in this PhD project. He is currently also involved in a SPLISS research project under the mentorship of Veerle De Bosscher.