Social Media & Global Sport Observatory

The Observatory is a stable and permanent academic structure for research, training and dissemination dedicated to the study of sports communication through social networks, viewed as a global phenomenon. The Observatory was promoted in 2016 by the CEO-UAB within the framework of the R+D+I project “Social Networks and Football: Violence, Public Participation and Ecology of Communication” (2016-2018), and seeking the collaboration of Southern California University, as an opportunity to create an innovative research, dissemination and training project. The Observatory is coordinated by Dr. Emilio Fernández Peña.

The Observatory conducts academic research, disseminates data and offers training on the subject of sports communication through social networks. The results are shared through the SMGSO website, Facebook and Twitter as:

• Data laboratory. The data lab is the most dynamic section, with updates offering informational briefs about the activity that sports and world sports organizations carry out on social networks.
• Case studies. The case studies aim to delve into the activity developed during specific sporting events, such as the Rio 2016 Olympic Games or in those outstanding sports organizations that require a more important focus.
• Publications. Free access is given to the activity developed by the research team at the academic level: articles published in academic journals, as well as books, and book chapters.