The event took place in the Danish city of Aarhus from September 12 to 14.

Twenty two countries were represented at the conference which combined formal speeches, academic presentations and athletes sharing their experiences.

The Danish Minister for Culture, Mette Bock, and EAS President Laura Capranica both gave presentations while Sara Slott Petersen, 400 metres hurdles silver medallist at Rio 2016, also spoke.

Doupona Topic, in her capacity as a Professor at the University of Ljubljana, presented a European project for providing lectures on entrepreneurship to student-athletes who are finishing their sport career and about to integrate into professional life.

A panel session looked at dual career programmes intended to prepare athletes for professional life after their retirement at last month's FISU World Conference during the Taipei 2017 Summer Universiade.

These programmes have become an important part of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee's work to support Olympians and Paralympians.

The IOC signed an agreement with Adecco in 2005 to develop the Athlete Career Programme.

An eight-year extension to the deal was signed in 2012 and more than 30,000 Olympians are claimed to have benefited from career development and job placement services.

To support dual career programmes, the IOC is understood to have also called on the resources of universities.

One of the annual research grants being awarded by the Olympic Studies Centre for 2017-2018 will go to a team of universities in Sweden, Spain, Belgium and The Netherlands.

They will look at training for dual career support providers.

The system of university and college scholarships for athletes used in the United States was highlighted by the Conference as a successful model.