Tiffin University, in collaboration with the American Institute of Applied Sciences in Switzerland (AUS), presented the 2025 Sport Education Global Impact Award to Professor Franco Ascani, President of the Fédération Internationale Cinéma Télévision Sportifs (FICTS) and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Commission for Culture and Olympic Heritage. The presentation took place during the International Sport Film Festival in Milan, Italy, held in October.
The award was presented during the closing ceremonies by Dr. Bonnie Tiell, Professor of Sport Management at Tiffin University and Dr. Liston Bochette, former Olympian and member of TU’s Sport Management Advisory Council.
The Sport Education Global Impact Award recognizes individuals or organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to promoting accessible, high-quality sport learning experiences across diverse cultural and international contexts. Professor Ascani was honored for his leadership in advancing sport education and media through the FICTS network, particularly his efforts to lead educational initiatives in conjunction with the upcoming 2026 Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina, Italy.
During the ceremony, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with FICTS and the Family Association for Pierre de Coubertin, founder of the Modern Olympics, to collaborate on sport media and educational programming. The agreement highlights a joint project—the “Guide to Creating A.I. Olympic-Themed Videos”—co-authored by Tiffin University student Dalton McComas, Dr. Tiell, Dr. Bochette and Margriet de Schutter.
“It was a privilege to represent Tiffin University and our partner institution in Switzerland, AUS, in the host city of the 2026 Olympics to present the inaugural Sport Education Global Impact Award to Professor Ascani,” said Dr. Bonnie Tiell. “He has dedicated his life to promoting the values of sport and Olympism through media, education and service to the international sporting community.” “Tiffin University is honored to join our partners at AUS in recognizing Professor Ascani’s remarkable contributions to the global sport community,” said Dr. Peter J. Holbrook, Provost and Chief Operating Officer of Tiffin University. “His lifelong dedication to advancing sport education and cultural understanding reflects the very principles we strive to uphold at Tiffin University: innovation, collaboration and the pursuit of excellence across borders.”