Rob Millington, PhD

Associate Professor, Kinesiology

Rob Millington

905 688 5550 x6752
[email protected]

Rob Millington is an Associate Professor in the socio-cultural study of sport and physical activity. His research focuses sport as a vehicle for social change and social justice in both contemporary and historical contexts.

In particular, he has two main research programs: The first explores the role of sport in contributing to international development objectives through international governance organizations like the United Nations and International Olympic Committee; The second considers the role of sport in contributing to sustainable development by examining the bi-directional relationship between sport and the environment, and the extent to which sport can mitigate, or exacerbate, the impacts of climate change.

Research Interests

  • Sport sociology,
  • Sport history
  • Sport for Development and Peace
  • Sport, environmentalism and climate change

Professional Affiliations, Accreditations and Certificates

  • North American Society for the Sociology of Sport
  • Social Justice and Equity Studies
  • Sport for Climate Action Framework Canadian Alliance Working Group

Scholarly Publications

Smith, T., Millington, R., Ali, A. & Darnel, S.C. (2025). The post-colonial challenges of climate change and Sport for Development and Peace in the Anthropocene. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 60(80), 1514-1534.

Darnell, S.C., & Millington, R. (2024). From sport for sustainability to sport as sustainability: Confronting the climate crisis in sport for development. Journal of Sport for Development 11(22), 37-46.

Ali, A., Millington, R., Darnell, S.C., & Smith, T. (2024). Policy vs practice in sport and climate change: The perspectives of key actors in global sport and international development. Frontiers in Sport and Active Living, 6, 1-12.

Millington, R. (2023). In with the old: The United Nations and Sport for Development and Peace, 1940-1990. Journal of Sport History, 50(1), 68-84.

Millington, R. & Darnell, S.C. (Eds.). (2020). Sport, Development and Environmental Sustainability. New York: Routledge. 

Teaching and Service

  • KINE 2P91: Social History of Physical Education and Sport
  • KINE 4P61: Sport, Environmentalism & Climate Change
  • AHSC 5P07: Qualitative Approaches, Theories, and Methods
  • AHSC 5P17: Qualitative Methods – Analysis & Interpretation

Undergraduate Student Opportunities

  • KINE 3P99: Special Studies in Physical Education and Kinesiology
  • KINE 4F91: Thesis/Project

Graduate Student Opportunities

  • Accepting Master’s students