The annual AISTS Client Team Project (CTP) Presentations are the culmination of months of rigorous work by the Participants of the AISTS Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sport Management and Technology 2026. These presentations offer a unique opportunity for clients to gain valuable, actionable insights customised specifically to the needs of their organisation.
About the Client Team Project
Over an eight-month period, teams of two to four participants work closely with their assigned clients to tackle real-world challenges across different areas of the sport industry. Through qualitative and/or quantitative research, they develop practical recommendations and innovative ideas tailored to their clients’ needs.
The Client Team Projects cover a wide range of topics, highlighting the multidisciplinary approach of the AISTS MAS programme. Projects may focus on areas such as marketing, digital media, business development, event management, sustainability, or technology, with each team addressing a specific challenge and delivering solutions that support the client’s objectives.
The final presentations showcase the participants’ commitment, knowledge, and teamwork, while also demonstrating the strong collaboration between AISTS and organisations from across the global sport industry. The recommendations developed throughout the projects often help clients improve their operations and contribute to the continued development of the sport sector.
The Projects
The AISTS Client Team Project 2026 feature six multidisciplinary projects developed in collaboration with leading international sport organisations.
01 HEC Paris
This project supports HEC Paris in designing the strategy for its new Sports Tech acceleration programme at Station F. It includes mapping the Sports Tech ecosystem, benchmarking leading accelerators, and identifying success factors that will differentiate HEC’s model. The team will propose a preliminary approach integrating academic expertise, innovation partners, and industry networks to position HEC as a premier Sports Tech hub.
Delivered by:
The Client Team Project gave me the opportunity to work on a real-world challenge for an external client while gaining first-hand exposure to the sports technology ecosystem. Through industry events and interactions with professionals, I developed a deeper understanding of how innovation is transforming sport and the importance of collaboration across the industry.”
— Alejandra AYALA, MAS 2026 participant.
02 World Taekwondo
AI-Driven Fan Engagement Strategy for VTKD
World Taekwondo seeks to bridge the gap between strong digital reach and limited in-person engagement. This project will analyse VTKD’s unique appeal and design an AI-enhanced fan engagement framework across digital and event environments. It will benchmark best practices, map the fan journey, and propose actionable strategies to build loyalty, increase attendance, and create measurable global engagement by 2028.
Delivered by:
The most valuable part was working directly with World Taekwondo and seeing how a global federation approaches real challenges. In class, you learn frameworks and concepts, but through this project, we were able to understand how decisions are made in practice and what organizations are doing to grow their sport and engage fans. It was interesting to work on a project that could have a real impact and to see how open the federation was to listening to new ideas and perspectives.
— Jorge RODRIGUEZ, MAS 2026 participant.
03 World Gymnastics
FIG NF Compliance Support Framework
This project assists World Gymnastics in consolidating existing compliance resources into a clear, user-friendly framework for National Federations. It includes creating a compliance roadmap, inventorying and categorizing World Gymnastics policies, identifying documentation gaps, and packaging tools for easy adoption. The aim is to strengthen governance standards globally and support NFs in progressing through a structured, measurable compliance process.
Delivered by:
Working alongside the World Gymnastics on a real-world strategic challenge was one of the most valuable experiences of the MAS. It provided a unique opportunity to learn directly from experts within one of the world’s leading international sports federations and gain insight into how they engage with and support their national member federations.
— Martin GIANETTI LATUF, MAS 2026 participant.
04 International Olympic Committee (IOC)
Analysis of Officiating Frameworks in Judged Sports
Confidential project.
Delivered by:
Through this project, I gained valuable skills such as critical analysis, effective communication, and proactive problem-solving that I can directly apply in the real sports world. Above all, I realized that a good governance system in sport, which pursues integrity and aligns with the Olympic Movement, should be supported by a transparent institutional strategy and stakeholder consensus.
— Chan Young PARK, MAS 2026 participant.
05 Global Observatory for Gender Equality & Sport (GO)
Expanding GO’s Strategic Partnerships in Sport
The project supports the Global Observatory in developing a strategic and operational plan to broaden its partnerships with key sports organisations. It includes mapping the gender equality landscape, assessing internal capabilities, identifying collaboration opportunities, and designing a roadmap for partnership models, service offerings, and engagement strategies that strengthen the Observatory’s role within the Global Sports Movement.
Delivered by:
I hope our work will help GO evolve from a research-focused observatory into a globally recognized authority that drives measurable progress on gender equality in sport. By equipping GO with scalable products, we aim to strengthen its financial sustainability while enabling it to coordinate stakeholders, harmonize measurement standards, and foster collective action across the ecosystem. — Rocky Jiaqi WEI, MAS 2026 participant.
06 World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC)
Innovative Olympic Format for New Team Sports
Confidential project.
Delivered by:
I found it most valuable to experience how strategy work changes when you move beyond data and frameworks and start accounting for organisational constraints and political context. It was a big learning for me not just to produce a deliverable, but to refine our recommendations through ongoing conversations with the client and a better understanding of their needs.
— Ayano KAINUKI, MAS 2026 participant.
The Impact of Past Projects
Client Team Projects don’t stop at the final presentation, many have directly inspired concrete initiatives within our client organisations.
IFAF (2025): The project “Design of proposals for a more gender-equal governance and sport ecosystem” supported the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) in developing strategies to strengthen gender equality across the sport. The project focused on improving opportunities for female athletes, coaches, technical officials, and increasing women’s representation in leadership and governance roles within IFAF and its member federations.
Working with IFAF’s leadership team and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee, the AISTS MAS participants developed recommendations that contributed to the launch of IFAF’s Women’s Leadership Programme in 2026. Following nominations opened in March, the first cohort of 16 members was announced in May, representing a concrete step towards advancing women’s leadership in American football. See IFAF’s LinkedIn post
Delivered by: Jiseok Hong, Rémi Collet, Camila Carvalho and Augusto Perilli
