Callum McCloskey

Callum is a Lecturer in Sport Development at the University of the West of Scotland (UWS), researcher, and sport practitioner specialising in sport governance, human rights, and sports mega-events. His work focuses on how global sport organisations, governments and host cities translate human rights and social impact commitments into practice.

His PhD examined the dynamics shaping human rights governance in major sporting events, with a particular focus on the FIFA World Cup 2026. His research draws on institutional and stakeholder perspectives to explore how organisations such as FIFA, governments, host cities and civil society actors influence policy development and implementation.

Callum's wider research and evaluation work includes the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games Impact Evaluation; Sports for the Planet, an international project mapping developments across sports mega-events over the past 30 years, where he contributes to the human rights and integrity strand; an SSHRC-funded project exploring disability rights in sport events; and UEFA-funded research with The FA examining barriers and enablers to off-pitch female volunteering in grassroots football.

Alongside his research, Callum teaches across sport development and related areas and has experience teaching and supporting undergraduate and postgraduate students across sport, social science and event-related subjects.

Outside academia, Callum has been involved in football and multi-sport coaching since 2017 and holds a UEFA C Diploma, bringing a practitioner perspective to his academic work on sport governance, policy and development.