Richard Giulianotti

Richard Giulianotti is a Professor of Sociology and UNESCO Chair in Sport, Physical Activity and Education for Development at Loughborough University. He holds affiliations with Harvard University's Global Sports Initiative and has served on UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for Physical Education and Sport. His career includes roles at Durham University as Head of Sociology and Head of the School of Applied Social Sciences before joining Loughborough in 2011.

Giulianotti earned his MA (First Class), MLitt, and PhD in Sociology from the University of Aberdeen, followed by academic posts there from 1990. He has been a visiting professor at institutions including Harvard, Seoul National University, and the University of Warsaw.

His research focuses on sport sociology, globalization, soft power dynamics, and sport-for-development initiatives. Key themes include global sport mega-events’ societal impacts, refugee integration through sport, and alcohol consumption in football cultures. He critiques sport’s role in soft power strategies, notably analyzing Qatar’s World Cup 2022 and China’s international football policies.

Giulianotti’s work spans 30+ years, producing over 150 peer-reviewed articles and books. Notable contributions include Global Sport (2018) and Routledge Handbook of Sport for Development and Peace (2018). His awards include Fellowship in the Academy of Social Sciences and Royal Society of Arts.

• Grants & Partnerships: Active in multi-institutional SDP projects, particularly in refugee integration and climate impact mitigation
• Advisory Roles: REF2021 sub-panel member (Sport Sciences), policy advisor for UNESCO and UK government

He leads the UNESCO Chair’s initiatives promoting education through sport in marginalized communities, emphasizing sustainability and global equity. Current projects explore migrant coaches’ identity challenges and decarbonizing sport.