BNU’s PhD candidate awarded research grant from Olympic Studies Centre

BNU’s PhD candidate Sonja Cimelli has been awarded a research grant from the IOC Olympics Studies Centre for her research project exploring breakdancing’s integration into the Olympic Games at Paris 2024, with a particular focus on the influence of the judging system. 

Sonja received the IOC Olympic Studies Centre PhD Students and Early Career Academics Research Grant for her research project, titled "Breaking and the Olympics: An exploration of the judging system during breaking's diversification from subculture to mainstream artistic sport". 

Ahead of the 2024 Summer Olympics, the IOC Olympic Studies Centre selected four research projects out of 28 applications to receive research grants based on their academic quality and link with Olympic studies. 

The chosen candidates benefit from a grant which allows them to carry out their research project and to consult the Olympic Studies Centre’s resources in Lausanne, Switzerland. 

Sonja’s project follows the IOC’s announcement to include breaking (breakdancing) at the Paris Olympics. Other youth-centric sports, including skateboarding, BMX freestyle and sport climbing, will also be hosted at La Concorde Urban Park. 

Her research looks to facilitate an understanding of the cultural, social, and political factors associated with judging system development during the integration process and will work to broaden the Olympics’ inclusivity of youth-centric subcultural sports. 

Sonja, who was part of the medical team at the London 2012 Olympic Games, commented: “I am honoured to have been awarded this research grant which will undoubtedly enhance the research process and highlight the significance of this research area. 

“Furthermore, I am extremely grateful to the support I have received from my PhD supervisors Dr Ben Clayton and Dr Ravina Huh, and the Graduate School at BNU, notably Dr Fiona McCormack. 

“I hope that this will pave the way for further Olympic-related research at BNU.” 

The results of Sonja’s research will be submitted in a report to the OSC at the end of 2024. Read more about the programme here. 

BNU offers two types of research degree across many subjects, with activities conducted at local, national and international level. To find out more about our projects visit our latest research and projects page where we share the most recent work from a range of subject areas.