Showing papers in "Sport in Society in 2012"
TL;DR: The use of sport in international development has been explored in the wider policy area of international development as discussed by the authors, with the Olympic legacy concept extended to include sport in the international development process.
Abstract: Recent years have seen the extension of the Olympic legacy concept to include the use of sport in international development As in the wider policy area of international development, the external p
73 citations
TL;DR: A Bourdieu-inspired understanding of how personal resources enable certain practices in certain contexts, the links between families' cultural, social and economic capitals, and children's daily physical activity were investigated in 500 suburban Danish schoolchildren using questionnaire data and accelerometer measures.
Abstract: From a Bourdieu-inspired understanding of how personal resources (‘capitals’) enable certain practices in certain contexts, the links between families' cultural, social and economic capitals, and children's daily physical activity were investigated in 500 suburban Danish schoolchildren using questionnaire data and accelerometer measures. Family socio-economic position (SEP) was found to be positively associated with children's participation in organized sport, which could be explained by differences in family capitals. By contrast, this study found no relationship between families' SEP and the amounts of general physical activity in children. This reflected the tendencies for club-organized sport to contribute a relatively small amount to the overall amount of physical activity in children, and for children of low SEP to be equally active in other settings such as school-breaks, day care and neighbourhood playgrounds.
55 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors examined the impact of the Special Olympics' Youth Unified Sports (YUS) program across five countries within its Europe/Eurasia region, focusing on the process by which impact is achieved, led by coaches involved in preparing participants for competition through training.
Abstract: This article examines the Special Olympics' Youth Unified Sports programme across five countries within its Europe/Eurasia region. It focuses upon the process by which impact is achieved, led for the most part by coaches involved in preparing participants for competition through training. This is realized through the creation of sports teams, which in the case of this research means association football and basketball teams, in which athletes (young people with intellectual disabilities, ID) are selected alongside partners (contemporaries without an ID) to form coherent units that then compete against other such teams locally, nationally and, occasionally, internationally. The results of this investigation reveal the positive impact, upon integration and inclusion, for athletes offered by the Unified Sports programme and point to the powerful outcomes for a host of stakeholders, ranging from Special Olympics at an organizational level, relatives of participants, partners and coaches as well as the athlete...
47 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors analyzed women's and men's participation rates in equestrian sports focusing on equestria and explained changes and variations in patterns of gender relations over time and space.
Abstract: In order to explain changes and variations in patterns of gender relations over time and space, the article analyses women's and men's participation rates in equestrian sports focusing on equestria
35 citations
TL;DR: This article provided an overview of some of the literature that has examined the practice of hazing in the USA in order to set the scene for much needed research in the UK. But less attention has been paid to the initiation ceremonies that regularly occur in British institutions.
Abstract: In recent years, the pervasive practice of student initiation ceremonies into university sports teams has become widely reported in the British media. Such initiations have been likened to the practice known as hazing, which is prevalent in universities across the USA. Although there is some research that has considered how and why hazing occurs in American universities, less attention has been paid to the initiation ceremonies that regularly occur in British institutions. This article provides an overview of some of the literature that has examined the practice of hazing in the USA in order to set the scene for much needed research in the UK.
34 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors make a parallel between sport-related behaviour and swaggering, which according to Robert J. Art (1980) is behaviour that is used to enhance national pride, satisfy a leader's ambitions, and enhance the country's image elsewhere.
Abstract: Performance of a country's teams on the playing field in international sporting events, as well as the opportunity to host events, contribute both to nation building and the enhancement of the national brand to outside observers. These events can create a strong sense of nationalism and may unify a population or strengthen the legitimacy of that state's incumbent government both at home and abroad. This paper attempts to create a parallel between this sort of sport-related behaviour and swaggering, which according to Robert J. Art (1980) is behaviour that is used to enhance national pride, satisfy a leader's ambitions, and enhance the country's image elsewhere. While Art's original discussion of swaggering is tied to the peaceful use of military force, the similarities between Art's swaggering, and the behaviour shown by decision-makers as it ties to international sport, particularly in regard to the Summer Olympics, are striking.
34 citations
TL;DR: In this article, ageing women face a double barrier when they wish to participate and perform in an endeavour where masculinity, youth and their achievements are celebrated and rewarded, and thus, ageing women find it difficult to participate in sport.
Abstract: Sport is an area in which masculinity, youth and their achievements are celebrated and rewarded. Thus, ageing women face a double barrier when they wish to participate and perform in an endeavour w...
32 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the conceptualization of fitness doping and its limits is examined and discussed in an elite sport context, and the authors examine the limits of fitness fitness doping in the context of elite sport.
Abstract: This paper examines the conceptualization of fitness doping and its limits Much attention of the media and social sciences researchers has been focused on doping in an elite sport context What is
32 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the contemporary relationship between Yorkshire cricket and South Asian communities through oral testimonies with white and British Asian cricketers within the region has been explored through a series of interviews.
Abstract: This article explores the contemporary relationship between Yorkshire cricket and South Asian communities through oral testimonies with white and British Asian cricketers within the region. The art...
29 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors explore how Norwegian sport has framed, negotiated and understood gender as policy issue during the last decades, and explore how Norway is seen around the world as a champion of gender equality policy.
Abstract: Norway is seen around the world as a champion of gender equality policy. This paper explores how Norwegian sport has framed, negotiated and understood gender as policy issue during the last decades...
28 citations
TL;DR: The authors examines the historical and contemporary links between Olympism and peacemaking, and highlights the perceived discrepancy between rhetoric and reality, and between theory and practice, as well as the persistent criticisms that have been levelled at the Olympic movement with regard to its achievements.
Abstract: This article examines the historical and contemporary links between Olympism and peacemaking. It traces the development of thought and praxis in relation to the Olympic movement's aim and capacity to promote peaceful coexistence and intercultural understanding from the ancient Olympic Truce to the revival of the modern Olympic Games by Baron Pierre de Coubertin, to the current relationship between the Olympic movement and the United Nations peace agenda. The article highlights the perceived discrepancy between rhetoric and reality, and between theory and practice, as well as the persistent criticisms that have been levelled at the Olympic movement with regard to its peacemaking achievements. In so doing, it draws together the key issues and debates addressed in this collection of papers.
TL;DR: In this article, a quantitative survey of sports participated in by the French showed that omnivority and massification of activities are major phenomena in the choice of physical activities and sports.
Abstract: The question of the social usage of culture and its links with social groups continues to be a topic of discussion. The aim of this article is to contribute to the debate by examining coherence in the choice of physical activities and sports. The study focuses on upper social groups, questioning, from a macro-sociological standpoint, their possible omnivority and their dissonance of choice with regard to these activities. Based on a quantitative survey of sports participated in by the French, the study shows that omnivority and massification of activities are major phenomena. However, upper social groups in France remain distinguishable, in terms of both their ‘high level of omnivority’ and their choice of distinctive activities. Dissonance is another of their characteristics, although to a lesser extent.
TL;DR: The authors offers an overview and critical, comparative reading of the discourses of international development championed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) versus those ascribed to those attributed to others.
Abstract: This paper offers an overview, and critical, comparative reading, of the discourses of international development championed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) versus those ascribed throug...
TL;DR: The authors conducted a survey of Australian popular opinion on the incidence and seriousness of drug use in sport and found that a quarter of athletes use banned performance-enhancing drugs, and a third use recreational drugs.
Abstract: In the last few years, a large number of cases have come to light in which celebrated individuals, and even whole teams, have been found to have used either banned performance enhancing or ‘recreational’ drugs. There are two very different perspectives on this issue. On the one hand, some see the use of banned drugs as a threat to sport, whereas on the other hand, the use of performance enhancing drugs is actually lauded as a way of energizing flagging public interest in sport. This study is the first survey of Australian popular opinion on the incidence and seriousness of drug use in sport. Data were collected via telephone interviews featuring a nationally representative sample of 2520 participants. Results showed that the public believe that a quarter of athletes use banned performance-enhancing drugs, and a third use banned recreational drugs. The sport most commonly identified as one where performance-enhancing drug use is common was athletics (Australian Football League for recreational drugs). The ...
TL;DR: In this article, the effect of red on sporting performances within a team sports arena, through empirical analysis of match results from the Australian Rugby League spanning a period of 30 years, was explored.
Abstract: Baron von Richthofen (the Red Baron) arguably the most famous fighter pilot of all time painted his plane the vividest of red hues, making it visible and identifiable at great distance, showing an aggressive pronouncement of dominance to other pilots. Can colour affect aggression and performance and if so is it observable within team sports? This study explores the effect of red on sporting performances within a team sports arena, through empirical analysis of match results from the Australian Rugby League spanning a period of 30 years. Both the descriptive analysis and the multivariate analysis report a positive relationship. Nevertheless, more evidence is required to better understand whether teams in red do enjoy greater success controlling explicitly in a multivariate analysis for many factors that simultaneously affect performance.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore how young women with physical impairments make use of technology in their identity construction, drawing on the metaphor of the cyborg as well as on science a...
Abstract: The aim of this article was to explore how young women with physical impairments make use of technology in their identity construction, drawing on the metaphor of the cyborg as well as on science a...
TL;DR: In this paper, sport is a major element in contemporary Aboriginal life: it provides meaning, a sense of purpose and belonging; it is inclusive and embracing in a world where most Aboriginal youth feel alienated, disempowered, rejected and excluded.
Abstract: It is surprising that a nation so dedicated to sport has ignored its role in trying to alleviate youth suicide. Involvement in sport has shown to deflect, even deter, juvenile delinquency. Similarly, there is evidence (and reason) enough to show a strong connection between sport and suicide among the young. Sport is a major element in contemporary Aboriginal life: it provides meaning, a sense of purpose and belonging; it is inclusive and embracing in a world where most Aboriginal youth feel alienated, disempowered, rejected and excluded.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that sex testing is not based on knowledge of reality, but on an edifice of gender ideology that is simplistic and outdated, and that there is now an urgent requirement to take the growing challenges to the taxonomy and ontology of sexual difference seriously.
Abstract: When it comes to sexing the body, the effect of increasing knowledge has not been to consolidate the two-sex model of sexual difference, but to challenge the certainties of binary thinking. While this has consequences across all discourses, sport finds itself in a particularly bright spotlight because of its reliance on a clear distinction between male and female bodies. This article argues that sex testing is not based on knowledge of reality, but on an edifice of gender ideology that is simplistic and outdated. It proposes that, in the light of recent controversies, there is now an urgent requirement to take the growing challenges to the taxonomy and ontology of sexual difference seriously. This should be done through a proactive programme of education, targeted at all those concerned with sport, so that they can think differently rather than attempt to bolster the status quo.
TL;DR: The authors argue that sport is not about conflict but competition; not about violence but controlled aggression; neither is it amoral and value-free but is itself a moral enterprise. The paper pro...
Abstract: This paper argues that sport is not about conflict but competition; not about violence but controlled aggression; neither is it amoral and value-free but is itself a moral enterprise. The paper pro...
TL;DR: The authors examines the media portrayal of Flintoff during that 2009 Ashes series and argues that sport provides contemporary societies with the celebrities which best represent national identity and sport provides society with celebrities that best represent the national identity.
Abstract: This article examines the media portrayal of Flintoff during that 2009 Ashes series The paper argues that sport provides contemporary societies with the celebrities which best represent national i
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors examine the existence and effects of barriers to women's participation in the flat racing industry, one of the only major professional sports in which men and women compete.
Abstract: This exploratory study examines the existence and effects of barriers to women's participation in the flat racing industry, one of the only major professional sports in which men and women compete ...
TL;DR: In this global twenty-first century world Aboriginal men and women are among some of the highest paid sportsmen and women in Australia as mentioned in this paper and this dramatic shift in acceptance overcame decades of exclusi...
Abstract: In this global twenty-first century world Aboriginal men and women are among some of the highest paid sportsmen and women in Australia. This dramatic shift in acceptance overcame decades of exclusi...
TL;DR: In this article, the authors investigated the longer term impacts of Euro 2005 on participation and organization of women's football in a multi-method case study approach, with a focus in one of the hosting areas in the north-west of England.
Abstract: This paper investigates the longer term impacts of Euro 2005 on participation and organization of women's football in a multi-method case study approach, with a focus in one of the hosting areas in the north-west of England. Using primary data from local football development officers and clubs, documentary sources and secondary data analysis, I consider in this paper whether hosting the event has contributed to any long-term legacy in participations and greater gender equity in the sport, regionally and nationally. The evidence suggests that there is still some way to go before such a claim could be made and the plans to develop a ‘Women's Superleague’ have uncertain outcomes and significant resource implications, particularly at the grass roots of the sport. The possible impacts of such major events on building participation and profile for women's sport are also considered, due to the legacy aspirations from the forthcoming Olympics in London.
TL;DR: In this article, the Swedish Equestrian Federation through their membership journal creates a field in which both equality and difference exist based on discourse and media analyses, both texts and images are used in order to analyse representations of femininity and masculinity.
Abstract: This study focuses on how the practitioners are constructed and positioned within the gender order of the equestrian sports The purpose of this study is to show how the Swedish Equestrian Federation through their membership journal creates a field in which both equality and difference exist Based on discourse and media analyses, both texts and images are used in order to analyse representations of femininity and masculinity Equestrian sports are theorized as a culture of knowledge, influenced by its history Despite formal equality in competition situations, there is a gender order in which the privilege of interpretation and the representation of knowledge are rooted in a male perspective, and those being taught are women But there is a sense of ambivalence, and an apparent need to negotiate the femininity of the horse girl She is represented as caring as well as brave, energetic and with leadership abilities in a less conventional manner
TL;DR: The Australian Football League (AFL) boasts a significant over-representation of players from Indigenous Australian backgrounds as mentioned in this paper, and has come to represent itself as a leading nati...
Abstract: The Australian Football League (AFL) boasts a significant over-representation of players from Indigenous Australian backgrounds. On this basis the AFL has come to represent itself as a leading nati...
TL;DR: The relatively young area of Indigenous sports studies in Australia has developed from some key foundational studies and expanded through a variety of approaches conducted primarily by non-Indigeno- Australians as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: The relatively young area of Indigenous sports studies in Australia has developed from some key foundational studies and expanded through a variety of approaches conducted primarily by non-Indigeno...
TL;DR: Fantasy sport can be seen as a form of escape from what many connoisseurs of sport doubtlessly consider sport has become: a commercialized, trivialized and hyperbolized media spectacle as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: Media interactivity in the field of sport functions as both a lure and a way of transforming a viewer's relation to a game. Sport websites, along with the more traditional medium of television, have taken on the pedagogical task of acquainting a mass audience with a variety of sports and their rules, skills, histories and cultures, and by extension turning them into sport fans and consumers. Fantasy sport accentuates and intensifies, while also constituting a reaction against, this development: it can be seen as a form of escape from what many connoisseurs of sport doubtlessly consider sport has become: a commercialized, trivialized and hyperbolized media spectacle. At the same time, fantasy sport produces entirely new sets of relations between spectators as fans and sporting contests, and to a large extent transforms the visual regime of sport spectatorship.
TL;DR: Morrah, P. as mentioned in this paper, defined the Golden Age of Cricket as the period between 1895 and 1914, spanning the two decades between 1895 to 1914, as the "golden age" of English cricket.
Abstract: For Patrick Morrah, the ‘golden age’ of English cricket came at the dawn of the twentieth century, spanning the two decades between 1895 and 1914 (Morrah, P. The Golden Age of Cricket. London: Eyre...
TL;DR: The New South Wales Annual Rugby League Knockout, run on the long weekend in October, is the largest gathering of Aboriginal people in Australia and has been running for 40 years.
Abstract: The New South Wales Annual Rugby League Knockout, run on the long weekend in October, is the largest gathering of Aboriginal people in Australia. This significant event, now running for 40 years, i...
TL;DR: The current status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men's health is poor and there remains a serious gap in life expectancy between these and other Australian men, and early signs of this gap can be seen.
Abstract: The current status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander men's health is poor There remains a serious gap in life expectancy between these and other Australian men, and early signs of this gap