Stadium in Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Spain

Sports Management

Business

Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

$6,150

Highlights

Career exploration

Daily activities and excursions

Immersion with a host family

Sports business proposal

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Dates

-

3 weeks

Costs

$6,150

Highlights

Career exploration

Daily activities and excursions

Immersion with a host family

Sports business proposal

Application Deadline

Enroll Now

Request Information

Overview
From the back office to the locker room, discover how to develop a sports management career in the iconic home of FC Barcelona.

Explore the various facets of the sports industry—from club management to athlete sponsorships—in Barcelona. Through interactive classes, find out what it takes to run a sports team. Guided by experts and entrepreneurs, learn how to assess opportunities and get an insider’s look at sports law, finance, media, marketing, and more. Team up with other Global Navigators to create a business plan.

In a city synonymous with sports worldwide, go on a journey to discover the history of professional soccer and other sports like basketball, rugby, handball, indoor soccer, volleyball, hockey, and more. Analyze key business trends governing the sports industry. Discuss the issue of sustainability and the impact of sporting events on the local community.

Immerse yourself in the beauty of Barcelona and its iconic architecture, from the Gothic Quarter to La Sagrada Familia and Parc Güell. On weekends, hit the beach and explore ancient towns in the Catalan region. Throughout your experience, you’ll gain a new perspective on the ever-evolving field of sports management, empowering you to pursue opportunities in the future.

Why Choose This Program?

Explore

Have fun discovering Barcelona's architecture, beach culture, and passion for sports.

Network

Meet new friends and sports industry professionals. Build your own community.

Get Inspired

Develop practical management skills and collaborate on a sports business plan.

Destination
  • BARCELONA, SPAIN Sports Management
  • BARCELONA, SPAIN Sports Management
  • BARCELONA, SPAIN Sports Management

The Destination

Welcome to Barcelona, where the Mediterranean meets a rich soccer heritage and multiple winning sports teams. 

When you think Barcelona, you think soccer. The city is home to professional soccer clubs that have rocked the sport in Spain and around the world: FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol—and that’s both their men’s and women’s teams! Yet, while soccer remains the big star, the sports scene offers so much more—the professional basketball, rugby, swim, hockey, and handball teams all dominate within their respective leagues, too. 

More than a mere form of entertainment, sports have been a gamechanger for the economy. Afterall, much of the city’s present-day identity is due to the 1992 Olympics. Each year, millions of visitors arrive to soak in the sun at La Barceloneta beach, admire Gaudi’s modernist buildings, and taste delicious dishes, which became recognized worldwide following the games.  

Barcelona’s status as a soccer capital, along with its international vibe, will provide you with unique insights and networking opportunities, letting you discover the allure of Spain’s second largest metropolis. 

Cultural Awareness  

CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Barcelona. 

 
Itinerary

Sample Itinerary

Objective

You’ll begin by exploring what Sports Management is all about—looking into its history, studying audiences, financial evolution, and social impact. You will investigate what sets sports apart from other forms of entertainment and evaluate the possibilities and potential of sports as a tool for society.

Highlights*
 

  • Tour of the BARÇA La Rambla Store
  • Montjuïc visit by cable car
  • Trip to Collserola Park and Tibidabo Ride Park

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Objective

You will dive into sports marketing, learning how to promote events, teams, athletes, and products through various strategies like advertising, sponsorships, and digital marketing. Practice your Spanish at the Mercat de la Boqueria, picking up food-related vocabulary while exploring the market and talking to local vendors. Lastly, you will focus on developing your final project proposal.

Highlights*
 

  • Tour of the Montjuïc Stadium
  • Friendly soccer match with local high schoolers 
  • Kayaking, paddle surfing, and bouncing castles in the Olympic canal at Castelldefels 

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Objective

You will finalize your project ideas and explore the best ways to develop them. You will learn to have basic conversations with locals, including interviews with CIEE staff. The week will conclude with your final project presentation at a mock press conference.

Highlights*
 

  • Interview with a professional sports figure in Spain 
  • Visit to Espanyol Football Club
  • Scavenger hunt in Park Güell 
     

*Based on prior year itinerary and subject to change.

Monday–Friday 

Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time on your own, too. Morning classes and afternoon activities may swap places.  

  • Breakfast at the hostel/hotel
  • Experiential learning with expert instructors and entrepreneurs
  • Lunch with your fellow Global Navigators
  • Out and about for a cultural activity or workshop
  • Dinner at the hostel/hotel

Weekends 

  • Overnight or day excursions to top sites 
  • Quality time with friends

Housing

  • Carefully-screened homestay

Check out the blog posts to discover more about daily life and excursions on program. 

Activities

Top Rated Activities

barcelona-spain.jpg

Guided Tour of Montjuïc Olympic Stadium

You step into Barcelona Olympic Stadium, and WOW—the energy hits you immediately. Standing above the iconic Olympic cauldron, you can almost hear the cheers from the 1992 Olympics.

This visit is more than just a walk through history—it’s a real-world lesson in sports management. As you explore Montjuïc Stadium’s transformation from an Olympic venue to a multi-purpose facility, you gain valuable insights into venue sustainability, event diversification, and the lifecycle of sports venues. At the Barcelona Sports Hub, you dive into the world of sports tech, meeting and talking with professionals who are driving innovation in the field. You'll get to hear firsthand how they are shaping the future of sports with cutting-edge technology.

On the pavilion, you snap photos with friends, soaking in the panoramic views of the city and the fresh mountain air. Surrounded by impressive architecture, you dream out loud about your future in sports, inspired by the possibilities ahead

group-shot-barcelona-spain.jpg

Meeting With Former Professional Athlete Gemma Rius

Former professional athlete Gemma Ruis now leads the Andorra Esports Clúster, a sports innovation network focused on advancing competitiveness and promoting ethical practices in the industry. As she shares her powerful personal stories that led to her advocacy work for gender equality and the prevention of sexual abuse in sports, the room is so silent you can hear a pin drop.

Now, more than ever, you understand the urgency of ethical and inclusive practices in sports management. Gemma also brings real-world insights from her transition from athlete to finance advisor and sports manager, illustrating how diverse skills can drive meaningful change.

During the lively Q&A, you and your fellow Global Navigators reflect on your own experiences, imagining how you can make a real difference in your communities and future careers. You walk away invigorated, feeling fortunate to be part of a group uniquely inspired to create lasting, positive change in the world of sports.

Testimonials
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Eligibility

Eligibility

  • Participants must be 14 years old and above.
  • Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors.  
  • For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our scholarship page

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

Application Fee 

$25 

Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.   

More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations, or contact us!  

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Program Summer Session I 2025 3 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $6,150
Program Summer Session II 2025 3 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $6,150

Ready to change your life?

Staff

Our Staff

Andrés Tabárez

Center Director

Andrés Tabárez is Center Director at CIEE Barcelona. Andrés holds a Ph.D. in Classical Studies from the University of Barcelona (UB).

Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.

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