About the Award
Recognising courage
The Ernest Lee Jahncke Award was established to acknowledge and encourage sport leaders who demonstrate sustained moral courage, public integrity, and principled leadership in relation to human rights, equality, and governance in sport.
The 2026 edition marks the beginning of a broader international initiative. Over the coming year, the founders will work toward an independent jury, transparent criteria, and a robust legal and institutional framework for future editions.
The International Award for Courageous Leadership in Sport
Legacy
Ernest Lee Jahncke
Ernest Lee Jahncke was the only member of the International Olympic Committee to oppose the 1936 Olympic Games being held in Berlin under Nazi rule. For that stance, he was expelled from the IOC. The award carries his name as a tribute to principled dissent, moral courage, and the willingness to speak out when institutions fail to do so.
2026 Laureate
Lise Klaveness
For its inaugural edition, the founders unanimously selected Lise Klaveness, President of the Norwegian Football Federation, as the first recipient of the Ernest Lee Jahncke Award.
She is being honoured for her consistent, outspoken and ethically grounded leadership in international football, and for addressing institutional inconsistencies in governance, integrity and human rights from within the system itself.
Supporting Organizations
Broad endorsement
The inaugural edition of the award is supported by organizations and individuals working at the intersection of sport, rights, governance and public accountability.
Presented by
Prof. Dr. Martine Prange
The award will be presented by Prof. Dr. Martine Prange. She is Full Professor of Humanity, Culture and Society at Tilburg University, sports philosopher, researcher of women’s football, and research partner in the Erasmus+ project I Play, I Belong, I Lead.
The Founders
Those behind the award
The Ernest Lee Jahncke Award was initiated by three individuals working across sports journalism, sports history and sport ethics. They established the award to recognise leadership that speaks out on integrity, human rights and governance in sport.
Press Information
Accreditation
Please note that attendance for press is by prior request only. Accreditation requests must be submitted before 25 March 2026, 18:00 CET. We will do our best to accommodate media, but capacity is limited.