Education

Ph.D., Sport and Exercise Sciences, University of Edinburgh
M.S., Sport Policy, Management, and International Development, University of Edinburgh
B.S., Sport and Recreation Management, University of Edinburgh

Background

Bradley Sharples is an assistant professor in the department of sport and entertainment management, joining the College of HRSM in August 2025. His research explores how major sporting events can serve as catalysts for equitable and sustainable development, with case studies focused on the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and the Taipei 2017 Universiade. Sharples is particularly interested in the intersection of sport, geopolitics and inequality, and how global disparities influence access to and outcomes from hosting international events. He has also conducted prior research on the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Sharples earned his Ph.D. in sport and exercise sciences from the University of Edinburgh, where he was a member of the Scottish Centre for Olympic Research and Education. His dissertation examined international inequality and sustainable development through the lens of global sport events. He also holds an MSc in sport policy, management and international development, and a BSc in sport and recreation management, both from Edinburgh.

His academic work has been featured in International Review for the Sociology of Sport and presented at international conferences, including the PyeongChang International Conference for Olympic Studies and the PSA Sport and Politics Annual Conference. His research has garnered recognition, including the Young Scholars’ Best Paper Award from PICOSRC. He has also contributed to institutional research and policy development efforts around diversity, disability support and student belonging.

Sharples brings extensive teaching experience from the University of Edinburgh, where he instructed both undergraduate and postgraduate courses on sport policy, media and industry practice. He is committed to fostering student engagement and critical inquiry around the global structures and cultural dynamics that shape the sport and entertainment industries.

Honors / Awards

• Young Scholars’ Best Paper Award, PyeongChang International Conference for Olympic Studies and Research Centres, 2023
• Conference Funding Award, University of Edinburgh, 2024

Research Interests

• Sport and sustainability
• Sport and development
• Sport and inequality
• Sport management
• Sport and the environment
• Sport and geopolitics

Teaching

• SPTE 590 – Sustainable Business Practices in Sport and Entertainment Management

Professional Affiliations

• Scottish Centre for Olympic Research and Education (SCORE)
• AdvanceHE, UK

Publications

Sharples, B. (2024). A comparative analysis of the environmental sustainability of London 2012 and Rio 2016: A capability approach to inter-national inequality at the Olympic Games. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 59(8), 1167-1191. https://doi.org/10.1177/10126902241252451