The Richmond Gender in Sport Research Centre (RGiSRC), Richmond American University London, and RIASA Leeds are pleased to invite submissions for the fourth annual Breaking Barriers Conference. Taking place on the eve of the Tour de France Femmes Grand Départ in Yorkshire, Breaking Barriers 2027 will bring together academics, students, practitioners, policymakers, community organisations, and industry professionals to explore how sport can contribute to a more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable society.
While the Grand Départ provides a timely backdrop, this is not a cycling-specific conference. Rather, it offers a broad interdisciplinary forum for examining the role of sport, physical activity, recreation, and active communities in promoting participation, wellbeing, inclusivity, and social change.
The conference will feature keynote presentations, research papers, workshops, practitioner case studies, panel discussions, networking opportunities, and a dedicated student poster showcase.
Conference Themes
We welcome submissions related to sport, physical activity, recreation, active mobility, and social change, including but not limited to:
1. Cycling, Mobility and Inclusive Futures
Inspired by the Tour de France Femmes Grand Départ, we particularly welcome contributions exploring:
- Women’s cycling
- Inclusive cycling cultures
- Active travel and mobility
- Community cycling initiatives
- Cycling, sustainability and environmental justice
- Cycling as a vehicle for social change
2. Gender, Equity and Representation
- Women and girls in sport
- Gender equity, policy and advocacy
- Leadership, governance and decision-making
- Representation, visibility and media narratives
- Women in coaching and officiating
- Gendered experiences of participation, fandom and work
3. Inclusion, Belonging and Social Justice
- Race, ethnicity and sport
- Disability, accessibility and inclusion
- LGBTQ+ experiences and inclusion
- Intersectional perspectives
- Belonging and community in sport and physical activity
- Sport for evelopment and social change
4. Participation, Wellbeing and Active Communities
- Barriers and facilitators to participation
- Physical activity, health and wellbeing
- Community sport and recreation
- Outdoor activity and nature-based participation
- Active lifestyles across the lifespan
- Innovative approaches to engagement and participation
5. Sustainability, Leadership and Responsibility
- Environmental sustainability in sport
- Sustainable sport management
- Climate action and adaptation
- Ethical leadership and governance
- Corporate social responsibility
- Sustainable event planning and delivery
6. Culture, Media and Storytelling
- Sporting identities and cultures
- Fan communities and fandom
- Media, communication and representation
- Sporting histories and heritage
- Community archives and memory projects
- Storytelling as a tool for inclusion and change
7. Major Events, Legacy and Place
- Sporting event legacies
- Social, cultural and economic impacts of events
- Community engagement through major events
- Event-led participation programmes
- Place-based sport development
- Sport tourism and destination development
Presentation Formats
We welcome proposals for:
- Research papers
- Practitioner case studies
- Interactive workshops
- Panel discussions
- Roundtables
Student Poster Showcase
In 2027, after the success of last year, Breaking Barriers will host a dedicated Student Poster Showcase.
We invite submissions from undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral students, as well as recent graduates. The showcase aims to provide a supportive environment for emerging researchers to present their work, engage with delegates, and receive feedback from academics and practitioners.
A Breaking Barriers Student Research Prize will be awarded for outstanding research communication.
Submission Guidelines
Research Papers, Workshops, Panels and Practitioner Presentations
Please submit:
- A250-word abstract
- A 100-word author biography
- Preferred presentation format
Student Posters
Please submit:
- A200-word abstract
- A 100-word author biography
- Institution and programme details
Submission deadline: 31.01. 2026
Notification of acceptance: 01.03. 2027
Please send submissions to: rgsrc@richmond.ac.uk
Contact: rgsrc@richmond.ac.uk
Accommodation
As Leeds is expected to be exceptionally busy during the Tour de France Femmes Grand Départ, accommodation across the city is likely to fill quickly.
To support delegates, the conference organisers have secured a limited allocation of rooms at Weetwood Hall Estate, the conference venue. These rooms will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis following registration.
Delegates are therefore encouraged to submit abstracts early and make travel arrangements as soon as acceptance decisions are released.
Join Us
Breaking Barriers 2027 seeks to foster meaningful dialogue about participation, inclusion, sustainability, leadership, wellbeing, and social impact across sport and physical activity.
Whether your interests lie in gender equity, community development, major event legacy, policy, cycling, active travel, sport management, or social change, we invite you to join us in Leeds for a day of critical discussion, collaboration, and inspiration.
