First Central Asia Conference on Sports Science invites extended abstract submissions to the inaugural meeting, taking place at The New Uzbekistan University

The First Central Asia Sports Sciences Conference at New Uzbekistan University 

The New Uzbekistan University (NewUU) warmly invites you to attend its inaugural conference on sports science, a landmark event aimed at bringing together leading minds in the field across Central Asia and beyond. This conference is designed to highlight high-quality research in the sports industry and to facilitate essential cooperation between academics and practitioners.

The event will be held from April 28 – 30, 2026

A Platform for Cutting-Edge Research

We encourage you to register and attend to engage with theoretical and empirical research papers covering various critical aspects of sports science. The conference agenda features presentations across major subfields, including:

• Sports economics
• Sports management
• Operations research in sports
• Sports analytics
• Computer science in sports
• Sports psychology
• Sociology of sport

Distinguished Collaborations

The conference is proud to be sponsored by the prestigious journal, Sports Economics Review (SER), which features  submissions that use the sports industry to study human behavior and various economic topics. The journal covers fields such as behavioral economics, finance, game theory, health economics, labor economics, and urban economics.

Our international network of partners includes the University of Reading (United Kingdom) and Molde University College (Norway). Furthermore, attendees will benefit from the expertise of a distinguished Program Committee featuring respected scholars such as Alex Krumer

(Molde University College), Juan D. Moreno-Ternero (Universidad Pablo de Olavide), Dmitry Dagaev (New Economic School, HSE University), Alex Krumer (Molde University College), James Reade (University of Reading), and the Founding Dean Professor Shlomo Weber (New Uzbekistan University), among others. Speakers  will represent various universities and countries, inducing: 

1. University of Bonn, Germany
2. Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Spain 
3. University of Tinbergen, The Netherlands
4. London School of Economics, UK
5. Ghent University, Belgium
6. University of Manchester, UK
7. Samford University, USA
8. Molde University College, Norway 
9. New Economic School, Russia
10. International University of Monaco, Monaco
11. Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany
12. HSE University., Russia
13. New Uzbekistan University, Uzbekistan

We look forward to welcoming you to NewUU for what promises to be a stimulating and collaborative event.

Conference Dates: April 28 – 30, 2026
Register here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfxgNB7ZM_vgagGx9JdQEwuaD9nCk4OP5g9q6HFcUVMjz6R2A/viewform

MORE INFORMATION ON SPORTS ECONOMICS

Sports economics is special because it applies traditional economic theory to a unique, data-rich industry where firms (teams) must cooperate to compete, and labor markets operate differently, such as through draft systems. It blends passion with business, dealing with high-stakes media rights, salary caps, and immense consumer loyalty, often acting as a laboratory to analyze human behavior, incentives, and competitive balance.

Key aspects that make sports economics distinct include:

Cooperative Competition: Unlike standard firms, sports teams cannot produce their product (a game) without a competitor, requiring tight coordination.

Unique Labour Markets: The industry features unconventional labor markets, including drafting rookies, salary caps, and transfer systems, which differ from typical, free-market employment models.

Data-Rich Environment: Sports provide precise, publicly available data on performance and decision-making, offering an ideal, controlled environment for analyzing economic theories like game theory.

Rationalizing the Irrational: It analyzes why fans pay high prices for emotional engagement (the "passion" factor) and why teams often prioritize winning over profit maximization.

Widespread Impact: It affects many industries beyond sports, including media, tourism, urban development, and legal systems.

Sports Sciences

What makes sports sciences special is its multidisciplinary nature, combining biology, physics, and psychology to push the limits of human potential. Unlike general exercise science, which focuses on public health, sports science is often dedicated to the "marginal gains" that separate elite athletes from the rest of the pack.

1. A Science of "Marginal Gains"

In elite sports, victory is often decided by fractions of a second. Sports science uses data to find these tiny advantages through: 

• Biomechanics: Analyzing movement to optimize technique, such as the exact angle of a swimmer's dive or a golfer's swing.
• Performance Analysis: Using high-speed cameras and wearable sensors to track real-time metrics like heart rate, oxygen saturation, and muscle fatigue.
• Nutrition & Hydration: Tailoring fuel and electrolyte plans specifically to an individual's metabolic needs and sweat rate. 

2. Precision Injury Prevention

One of its most practical applications is "load management." By monitoring training intensity and volume, sports scientists can predict and prevent injuries before they happen. When injuries do occur, they apply scientific rehabilitation methods to return athletes to play faster and stronger than traditional methods. 

3. The Mental Edge

Sports science recognizes that the body is only half the battle. Sports psychology is a core pillar that helps athletes with: 

• Mental Resilience: Techniques for handling high-pressure situations and "bouncing back" after defeat.
• Visualization: Using mental rehearsal to improve physical execution.
• Motor Control: Understanding how the brain organizes complex movements to perform them more efficiently with less energy. 

4. Impact Beyond Elite Athletes

While famous for helping Olympians, the field also solves real-world health challenges: 

• Healthy Aging: Designing programs to help the elderly maintain mobility and prevent falls.
• Chronic Disease: Using exercise as a "medicine" to manage conditions like diabetes and heart disease.
• Equipment Design: Developing safer helmets, more aerodynamic bikes, and better-performing footwear.

While not all sports scientists are highly paid, those at the top of the field command significant salaries because they directly influence the revenue-generating potential of multi-billion dollar athletic organizations. Their high compensation is driven by a unique "perfect market" where specialized knowledge meets the high stakes of professional sports. 

1. Direct Link to Revenue & Winning

In professional leagues, winning is the primary product. A sports scientist who can improve an athlete's performance by even 1% provides a massive return on investment: 

• Asset Protection: Professional athletes are multi-million dollar assets. Sports scientists protect this investment through advanced injury prevention and load management, ensuring stars stay on the field rather than the bench.
• Marginal Gains: In elite competition, victories are decided by fractions of a second. High-paid scientists use biomechanics and data analytics to find these tiny advantages that lead to championships and increased ticket/merchandise sales. 

2. Scarcity of Elite Talent

The market for top-tier sports science is small and highly competitive: 

• High Barrier to Entry: The highest-paying roles typically require advanced degrees and highly specialized certifications.
• Limited Positions: There are only a handful of senior roles in major leagues like the NFL, NBA, or Premier League. This low supply against high demand from wealthy teams drives up wages. 

3. Specialized High-Paying Roles

Salaries vary widely depending on the specific niche within sports science,  Sports Data Scientists: Highly sought after for their ability to interpret "big data" to optimize team strategy. Senior roles in the NFL can earn an average of $140,631, with some reaching up to $280,000.

Read: https://www.economicsobservatory.com/what-can-sport-learn-from-economics-and-economics-from-sport

Where can I find out more?

• Footynomics and the Business of Sport: Book by Tim Harcourt.
• Advances in Sports Economics: Book edited by Robert Butler.
• Ask not what economics can do for sports – ask what sports can do for economics: Article in the Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics - will be presented at the Conference by Alex Krumer, the author

Who are experts on this question?

• Tim Harcourt
• Alex Krumer  - member of our Program Committee, will come to conference in person
• James Reade - member of our Program Committee 
• Carl Singleton
• Stefan Szymanski - member of our Program Committee