This week we chat to our lecturer in Sport Management & Policy, Dr Geoffery Z. Kohe
Why did you pick a career in sport?
Although I had many interests in sports as a young person, I had a particular fascination with the Olympic Games. I remember, for example, watching the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Barcelona in 1992 and following New Zealand athletes (my home country) compete internationally throughout the 1990s. That interest, as well as inspiring teachers, academic success and a general interest in physical activity and education led me to embark on Physical Education degree. While studying at University in the early 2000s, I was introduced to lots of new subjects, ideas and opportunities by my lecturers that led me to focus my interests and passions. I ended up completing my PhD in sport history, focusing on the organisational politics of sport and legacy of the Olympic movement in New Zealand. This research focus continues to open up career opportunities, collaborative networks and exciting adventures here in the UK and further abroad. I have been fortunate to visit many countries (including, China, Taiwan, India, Brazil, Canada, Cuba, the USA and much of Europe) because of this sport-related career.
What do you enjoy most about teaching at Kent?
Teaching at Kent, and in particular students within the School of Sport & Exercise Sciences, is particularly enjoyable. I see students across all three undergraduate levels and admire how they develop professionally and personally over the course of their studies. I am continually amazed and inspired by the commitment, entrepreneurship and autonomy many of our students show in not only engaging in their studies, but also using their time at Kent to work out exciting career pathways and possibilities beyond University. I especially enjoy teaching students of Sport marketing as it gives me an opportunity to share my research and interest in sport organisations and the Olympic movement, and also help develop students’ critical thinking about the sport sector and its consequences. It is also great to see students engage with the module and see it as a possible career pathway to pursue.
What are you currently researching?
Currently, I am working on a couple of key projects. One of which is in relation to my ongoing research on Olympic education critique. Here I am working with colleagues in Japan, Taiwan and the UK to examine historical and contemporary approaches to Olympic education (with specific emphasis on Tokyo 2020). My work has continued to illustrate that despite progressive trends in the educational sector toward inclusive, democratic, critical and socially responsible ways of learning, these trends have rarely been met with the prolific and much celebrated development of Olympic-related initiatives. We encourage sport organisations, corporate stakeholders, educators and Olympic organisers to think more carefully about the work they do, the claims they make and the messages they enforce upon young people.
One other aspect of my work is on athlete welfare, sport organisations’ ethical responsibilities and duties of care. Working with a colleague in the UK, I have been examining various aspects of the professional sport sector (e.g., contract development, career identity, organisational pressure, geopolitical conflict, and welfare) and the consequences for sport workers’ lives and experiences. Focusing primarily on Europe, we are endeavouring to build up a clearer picture of the contexts in which professional sport workers operate, how sport organisations structures aid and impede work, and what future sport work might need to address.
What is your favourite sport to watch or play?
Though I gave up team sport many years ago, I am a regular gym enthusiast and enjoy frequent use of the great facilities up at Medway Park. In terms of watching, my main interest is the Olympic Games (Summer and Winter iterations), as well as the Commonwealth Games. Within these, in our house we have a preference for swimming & diving, gymnastics, cycling and a bit of rowing. While having to wait a couple of years each time for these to roll around, I also particularly enjoy watching tennis and the (very) occasional sport matches of international significance such as All Blacks tests or FIFA World Cups.