Olympic Games: Economic Impact Assessment

Dr Claude Stricker served as Executive Director of the AISTS – International Academy of Sports Science and Technology – from 2002 to 2023. He led the creation and development of the AISTS Master in Sport Management & Technology and expanded AISTS’s executive education programmes across Switzerland, Japan, China, Morocco, and South Korea.

Prior to AISTS, Dr Stricker was Professor in business information systems at the Swiss University of Applied Sciences and a research associate in technology management at EPFL. His areas of expertise include management, economics, information systems, and business process design.

He currently chairs the Icare Institute for IT research and development in Valais. He also played a key role in Switzerland’s 2026 Winter Olympic bid as Director of Innovation, Legacy, and Sustainability.

Dr Stricker holds a PhD in Economics and Management Science from the University of Lausanne, along with advanced degrees in Business Information Systems, Management, and Sport and Physical Education.

With a rich background in sport, he competed in alpine skiing at three Winter Universiades, winning FISU European Cups. He also served as coach, technical director, and race organiser in Swiss ski associations, and competed professionally in windsurfing. Earlier in his career, he taught physical education in Swiss public schools.

Jean-Jacques Dethier is an experienced consultant in the field of sport economics and international sporting events. Based in Lausanne, Switzerland, he has worked closely with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Academy of Sports Sciences and Technology (AISTS) on multiple high-level studies.

Between 2008 and 2013, he conducted research on the economic impact of the IOC and International Sports Federations on Switzerland, providing valuable insights into the contribution of sport governance bodies to the national economy. His international expertise includes impact studies for major events such as the 28th Summer Universiade in Gwangju (2015), the World Championships of the International Modern Pentathlon Union in Berlin (2015) and Moscow (2016), and the SportAccord Convention held in Lausanne in 2016. He also contributed to the analysis of the 29th Summer Universiade in Taipei City (2017), further consolidating his reputation as a specialist in assessing the socio-economic value of global sports events.