The Global Sport and Performance Center (GSPC), housed within the School of Sport Sciences in the College of Applied Human Sciences (CAHS) at West Virginia University, is committed to advancing excellence in sport and physical activity on a global scale.
Since its inception in 2004 as the International Center for Performance Excellence (ICPE), West Virginia University has been at the forefront of global education in sport sciences. The ICPE established a strong foundation through initiatives such as FiT Publishing, international faculty and student exchanges, and workshops that connected scholars and practitioners worldwide. Now rebranded as the Global Sport and Performance Center (GSPC), the Center continues WVU’s legacy while embracing innovation and collaboration to remain a leader in the global sport sciences community.
In the early 2000s, under the leadership of Emeritus Professor Dr. Andrew Ostrow, the former College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences established the International Center for Performance Excellence (ICPE).
Founded in 2004, the ICPE’s mission was to support educational initiatives that promoted awareness, locally, nationally, and internationally of the benefits of sport and physical activity. The ICPE gained worldwide recognition through its publishing arm, FIT, which produced hundreds of scholarly publications over nearly two decades, enhancing WVU’s profile in the global sports science community.
Building on that foundation, the creation of the Global Sport and Performance Center represents the natural evolution of the school’s long-standing commitment to global engagement in sport and physical activity.
Today, the Global Sport and Performance Center serves as a hub for integrating innovative curricula, expanding digital learning and credentialing opportunities, fostering collaborative research, and engaging with international partners. Through these efforts, the GSPC strengthens WVU’s leadership and impact within the global sport science community.
To be a globally recognized leader in sport science education and innovation, advancing the development of inclusive, connected, and impactful sport systems through cutting-edge learning, collaborative research, and meaningful engagement on the international stage.
The Global Sport and Performance Center (GSPC) at West Virginia University’s School of Sport Sciences College is committed to advancing global education in sport and physical activity. Through innovative curriculum integration, digital learning and credentialing, collaborative research, and meaningful global engagement, the Center seeks to strengthen the Schools of Sport Sciences leadership in the international sport science community.
Academic Curriculum
Integration
Digital Learning and
Credentialing
Global Partnerships
Bridging
Global Engagement in
the Olympics
