A record number of universities have taken part in this year’s International Olympic Case Study Competition (CSC), with the top student teams now set to face off in the global final in

Lausanne, Switzerland, on 24 March 2026.

Now in its fifth edition, the competition has grown significantly since its launch in 2021, doubling participation from 18 to 36 universities worldwide. This year also marks a milestone moment: for the first time, the final will be in person at the Olympic Museum, bringing together finalists from across continents.

Organised by the International Olympic Committee’s Olympic Studies Centre, in partnership with Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and the European University of Madrid, the CSC blends academic theory with real-world problem solving. Students are challenged to tackle current issues in sports management through research-driven and collaborative approaches.

The 2025/2026 edition centres on a timely theme: supporting and guiding young elite athletes. Participants have worked through multiple stages of competition, first at their home institutions and then internationally, before reaching the final round.

Ten teams have secured a place in the final — six in the master’s category and four at undergraduate level. Notably, this year’s lineup includes the first-ever African finalist, marking a significant step forward in the competition’s global reach.

In the master’s category, finalists include German Sport University Cologne, Ibn Tofail University, International University of Monaco, KU Leuven, the University of Lille, and the University of Tübingen. Meanwhile, undergraduate finalists come from Corvinus University of Budapest, the European University of Madrid, Syracuse University, and the University of Guelph.

Several institutions — including Corvinus University of Budapest, Syracuse University and Ibn Tofail University — are making their debut appearances in the final. Ibn Tofail University has already made history as the first African university to reach this stage.

The final presentations will be evaluated by an international jury made up of academic experts and sports industry professionals. Both the master’s and undergraduate finals will also be livestreamed, allowing a global audience to follow the competition.

As the CSC continues to expand, it is cementing its role as a leading platform at the intersection of sport, education and research — and a launchpad for the next generation of sports management talent. Photo by Gzzz, Wikimedia commons.