University of Vienna - Faculty of Sport Science
Auf der Schmelz 6, 1150 Wien, Austria

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Otmar Weiss was born on 28 February 1953 in Austria. He studied mathematics and sport science at Vienna University, graduating with an MA in 1982 and completed his PhD in mass communications and sport science in 1984.

His academic career started in 1984 when he became assistant professor in the Department of Sport Science at the University of Vienna. 1987-88: Research grant to attend Ohio State University, OH, and San José State University, CA. He completed his post doctoral thesis on sport and society: a socio-psychological perspective, at the University of Vienna in 1989.

Since 1992 a professor at the Department of Sport Science at the University of Vienna, he served as President of the European Association for Sociology of Sport (2001-2008). He was director of post graduate studies in psycho-motor activity at the Lower Austrian Landesakademie from 1996 to 2009 and has been at the University of Vienna since 2009.

Main Academic Activities

Chairman of the Austrian Society for Sociology of Sport since 1994

Board member of the International Sociology of Sport Association (1995-1999 extended board, 1999-2003 executive board)

On the editorial board of the International Review for the Sociology of Sport (1995-2003)

On the editorial board of the European Journal for Sport and Society since 2004

President of the European Association for Sociology of Sport (2001-2008)

Vice-Head of the Department of Sport Science at the University of Vienna from 2004 to 2008 and since 2010.

Main Research Projects

1985-1987:  The image of sport in Austria

1988-1996:  Cross-cultural studies on sport identities and motivation in Austria, the Czech Republic and the USA

1990-1994:  Development of the curriculum and preparation of post-graduate studies in psycho-motor activity in Austria

1996-1998:  Ski tourism and environmental problems. Ecological awareness towards sustainable winter tourism

1999-2001:  Tempus Phare Joint European Project. Sports in incorporation of the Czech Republic into EU

2000-2002:  Development and trends of sports in Austria

2001-2003:  Sport and health: a socio-economic analysis

2003-2005:  Sport participation in Austria

2006-2008:  EURO 2008 in Austria and Switzerland

Since 2010: The significance of sport in different European countries. Design of a sport index