In the Nordic countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland), as elsewhere, sport has been an assertion of individual and group identity, a demonstration of modernity, a source of personal, local and regional self-esteem, a symbol of confrontation and a preparation for war.
This volume is the first major work in the English language to bring together the research and reflections of scholars who have chosen to concentrate on the cultural impact of sport - the modern opium of the masses - in a Scandinavian setting. It explores the political, social and aesthetic impact of modern sport on Northern Europe, and the relationship between the Nordic nations and Nordic cultures, attitudes to the body and the evolution of specific Nordic visions of sport. The Nordic World shows why sport has played such an important part in both twentieth-century Nordic society and contemporary European culture.

This is the first book to examine the growing movement of organised networks of LGBT+ football supporters, exploring activists' biographies and the meanings they ascribe to participation in identity politics-centred social movements. The book draws upon in-depth original research into the Pride in Football LGBT+ football supporters' network in the UK, alongside comparative material from other countries. It is also the first book to apply a cultural relational sociological framework to the study of football fans and supporters' groups, marking an important theoretical step forward that opens up new perspectives in the sociology of sport, the sociology of collective action and social movements, and the sociologies of genders and sexualities in the twenty-first century world. As the struggle for cultural rights and recognition of LGBT+ communities continues, with football fandom providing an important site for understanding of these issues given its historically-embedded hegemonic masculine culture, and in the aftermath of gay male football player Jake Daniels' 'coming out' in May 2022, the book offers timely insights into new social movements, the consumption of sport and the experiences of people from a diversity of sexualities. This is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in the sociology of sport, football, fandom, gender, sexualities, social theory or social movements.

An examination of the relationship between sport and its cultural heritage. Sport is an integral part of British culture and an important aspect of modern life. Although its importance has been recognised by academic historians, sport has yet to be fully appreciated in the growing and related fields of heritage and museum studies. Sport and heritage have operated as seemingly separate spheres, yet together they can convey powerful messages; convergence between them is seen in the rise and popularity of sports museums, the collecting of sporting art and memorabilia, and popular concern over the demise of historic sports buildings and sport-related sites. These places, exhibitions and activities help to shape our understanding of sport, history and the past. The essays in this volume explore sports history as manifested in academic enquiry, museum exhibitions and heritage sites. They deal among other things with the public representation of sport and its significance; its impacton public spheres; the direction of sports heritage studies and their aims; the role of museums in public history; and place, memory and meaning in the historic sports landscape. Contributors: Jeffrey Hill, Jed Smith,Anthony Bateman, Ray Physick, Neil Skinner, Matthew Taylor, Tim O'Sullivan, Kevin Moore, Max Dunbar, Santiago De Pablo, John K. Walton, Wray Vamplew, Honor Godfrey, Jason Wood, Andrea Titterington, Stephen Done, Mike McGuinness, David Storey, Daphne Bolz, Jean Williams, Richard Holt Jeffrey Hill is Emeritus Professor of Historical and Cultural Studies, De Montfort University, Leicester; Kevin Moore is Director, National Football Museum, Manchester; Jason Wood is Director, Heritage Consultancy Services.

This book explores how people encounter the pasts of their homes, offering insights into the affective, emotional and embodied geographies of domestic heritage. For many people, the intimacy of dwelling is tempered by levels of awareness that their home has been previously occupied by other people whose traces remain in the objects, decor, spaces, stories, memories and atmospheres they leave behind. This book frames home as a site of historical encounter, knowledge and imagination, exploring how different forms of domestic 'inheritance' - material, felt, imagined, known - inform or challenge people's homemaking practices and feelings of belonging, and how the meanings and experiences of domestic space and dwelling are shaped by residents' awareness of their home's history. The domestic home becomes an important site for heritage work, an intimate space of memories and histories - both our own but also not our own - a place of real and imagined encounters with a range of selves and others. This book will be of interest to academics, students and professionals in the fields of heritage studies, cultural geography, contemporary archaeology, public history, museum studies, sociology and anthropology.

This much needed book examines all of the major traditions of social thought to clearly show their influence in our understanding of sport and leisure.

At the intersection of sport, entertainment and performance, wrestling occupies a unique position in British popular culture. This is the first book to offer a detailed historical and cultural analysis of British professional wrestling, exploring the shifting popularity of the sport as well as its wider social significance. Arguing that the history of professional wrestling can help us understand key themes in sport, culture and performance that span the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, it addresses topics such as: attitudes towards violence, representations of masculinity, the media and celebrity culture, consumerism and globalisation. By drawing on a variety of intellectual traditions and disciplines, the book explores the role of power in the development of popular cultural forms, the ways in which history structures the present, and the manner in which audiences construct identity and meaning through sport. Wrestling in Britain: Sporting Entertainments, Celebrity and Audiences is fascinating reading for all students and researchers with an interest in media and cultural studies, histories and sociologies of sport, or performance studies.

"The Richardson boys ganged up with two other big families in their buildings and, at various ages, had tried out most of the local youth organisations. Bert Richardson with a suitable set of brothers and mates, was in the Scouts, but they got ejected. Later, at thirteen, he joined a boys' club for its boxing and football, and belonged on and off till he was sixteen. Then he suddenly dropped out." Why did Bert drop out? Originally published in 1954, the answer forms the substance of Some Young People, the report of an inquiry into adolescents' reactions to their local youth groups. Besides answering the question "Who joins what?" (and two thirds of these thousand youngsters of 14 to 17 were not members of any youth organisation) the book describes some of the hopes, pleasures and difficulties of such people as Frances, the chocolate packer, who has ambition to marry before long; and John, the carpenter's apprentice, whose passions are autocycling, pigeons and pigs. It also throws light on problems such as those presented by gangs; and suggests the importance of "my friends," the closely-knit set who mean so much to the adolescent.

o Series - the book will be a key part of the overall series o Authors - team of academic leaders with industry background and an industry CEO with an academic/writing background. o Sponsorship - COVID notwithstanding, a growing and popular field of work and study. o Content that can be applied in practice. o Global leaders on the topic (SponsorshipX, CSLS, etc.).

This book offers a brief history of how autoethnography has been employed in studies of sport and physical (in)activity to date and makes an explicit call for anti-colonial approaches - challenging scholars of physical culture to interrogate and write against the colonial assumptions at work in so many physical cultural and academic spaces. It presents examples of autoethnographic work that interrogate physical cultural practices as both produced by, and generative of, settler colonial logics and structures, including research into outdoor recreation, youth sport experiences, and sport spectatorship. It situates this work in the context of key paradigmatic issues in social scientific research, including ontology, epistemology, axiology, ethics and praxis, and looks ahead at the shape that social relations might take beyond settler-colonialism. Drawing on cutting-edge research and presenting innovative theoretical perspectives, this book is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in physical cultural studies, sport studies, outdoor studies, sociology, cultural studies, or qualitative research methods in the social sciences.

This updated study of sports and recreation utilizes the most current research, introducing the latest innovations and analyses in new chapters while revising and expanding chapters from the previous edition. Presenting diverse methodological and conceptual approaches, this anthology reflects the current view of sports as a "natural laboratory" for ecologically valid research. This collection contains literature reviews, innovative theories and methods, and essays on various psychological and social aspects of sports, games, and organized play.

This book takes a close look at discrimination in football in order to illuminate our understanding of the interaction between sport and wider society, politics and culture, particularly in terms of the (re)production of identity. It presents insightful and diverse international case studies, including the shadow of fascism in Italian football; fan activism against racism, sexism, and homophobia in US soccer; migrant football clubs in Germany, and the use of football club history in the teaching of antisemitism. Together they demonstrate the damaging societal consequences of unchecked resentment and discrimination in football fan cultures but also the potential for fan activism as a socio-positive force. This is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in football or fandom, the sociology of sport, cultural studies, or political science.

Riveting and inspiring first-person stories of how "taking a knee" triggered a political awakening among athletes of all ages and levels, from the celebrated sportswriter "With profiles of courage that leap of the page, Zirin uncovers a whole national movement of citizen-athletes fighting for racial justice." -Ibram X. Kendi, National Book Award-winning author of Stamped from the Beginning Hailed by Publishers Weekly in a starred review as "an enthralling look at the impact of peaceful protest by sports figures at the high school, college, and professional levels," The Kaepernick Effect explores the story of how quarterback Colin Kaepernick's simple act of "taking a knee" spread like wildfire throughout American society, becoming the preeminent public symbol of resistance to America's persistent racial inequality. In this powerful book, critically acclaimed sports journalist and author Dave Zirin chronicles "the Kaepernick effect" for the first time, through "a riveting collection of first-person stories" (The Nation) from high school athletes and coaches, college stars and high-powered athletic directors, and professional athletes across many different sports-from Megan Rapinoe to Michael Bennett. In each case, he uncovers the fascinating explanations and motivations behind what became a mass political movement in sports. "Necessary reading for all, especially those who want to make a difference in promoting social justice, equity, and inclusion, and end police brutality" (Library Journal, starred review), The Kaepernick Effect is for anyone seeking to get involved in the new movement for racial justice in America: "Take a knee, everyone, and start a revolution" (Kirkus Reviews).

Arch and unrepentant, Will Leitch, founding editor of Deadspin.com, is the mouthpiece for all the frustrated fans who just want their games back from big money, bloated egos, and blathering sportscasters. Always a fan first and a sportswriter second, Leitch considers the perfection of fantasy leagues and the meaninglessness of the steroids debate as he exposes Olympic fetishes, parses Shaq's rap attack on Kobe, shares a brew with John Rocker and his surprising girlfriend, and reveals what ESPN and the beer companies really think about you. If you or a fan you love is suffering from a sense of listless dissatisfaction brought on by the leagues and networks, "God Save the Fan" is your new manifesto.

This innovative study examines the Olympic programme from a critical feminist perspective, to shed new light on the issues of gender and inclusion at the Olympic Games and in the Olympic Movement. Incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data, the book identifies and analyzes the changes - and remaining gender differences - made on the Olympic Programmes for London 2012, and each of the subsequent Summer and Winter Olympic Games (Sochi 2014, Rio 2016, and Pyeongchang 2018), as well as the Tokyo 2020 and Beijing 2022 Games. The book draws on the IOC's own publications, information from International and National Sport Federations, and media sources to describe and explain the IOC's slow and uneven progress toward gender equality at the Olympic Games. This is important reading for any student, researcher, practitioner or policy maker with an interest in the Olympic Games, sport studies, gender studies, women's sport or major events.

Globally, we find ourselves in a novel set of circumstances where our individual and collective relationships with leisure have changed dramatically and are being dictated less by personal preferences or even affluence, but rather by health, legal, and societal factors. There is very little published work on changed practices in leisure due to the pandemic, especially focusing on activities that were previously considered ordinary and perhaps even mundane. Contribute to the compilation of a historic record of the way the pandemic has transformed various leisure behaviours in diverse cultural and national contexts at this unprecedented time.

A resource for progressing current research into disability sport. Brings together an eclectic mix of contributing authors. This includes disabled and able-bodied academics, and particularly for the sections in which we address intersectionality, authors who themselves have lived experiences of living with multiple identities. Bridge important gaps between disability studies and sport sociology through offering thorough interrogations between theory, method and empiricism progressing research in the field.

This volume represents a compilation of critically reflexive thinkers in adaptive physical activity (APA) who have willingly embraced the uncomfortable issues of ableism, disableism, and ethically questionable professional practices in the field. From an unprecedented, frank, and introspective stance, the authors make the comfortable and taken-for-granted, uncomfortable. International researchers and educators bring reflexion to ableism in higher education - including curriculum making, textbooks as artefacts of the professional landscape in APA, and the models of disability that unconsciously frame post-secondary instruction in APA.

This book takes a close look at discrimination in football in order to illuminate our understanding of the interaction between sport and wider society, politics and culture, particularly in terms of the (re)production of identity. It presents insightful and diverse international case studies, including the shadow of fascism in Italian football; fan activism against racism, sexism, and homophobia in US soccer; migrant football clubs in Germany, and the use of football club history in the teaching of antisemitism. Together they demonstrate the damaging societal consequences of unchecked resentment and discrimination in football fan cultures but also the potential for fan activism as a socio-positive force. This is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in football or fandom, the sociology of sport, cultural studies, or political science.

This is the first book to survey the participation of women in sport and physical education across Asia, from the Middle East and South Asia through to the Asia-Pacific region. Covering sport and physical activity at all levels, from school-based PE and community sport to elite, high-performance sport, the book provides an important overview of developments in policy, theory and research across this complex and dynamic region. It has a strong focus on gender equity but is informed by important intersecting influences that affect the lives of girls and women and their participation in sport. Including contributions from leading scholars from across the region, the book draws on multi-disciplinary perspectives, including sociology, cultural studies, anthropology, and history, and makes an important contribution to global understanding of diversity, challenges, and achievements in the sporting lives of Asian Women. This book will be a fascinating read for any student, researcher, or policy-maker working in sport studies, gender studies, women's studies or Asian studies.

This book presents a cross-disciplinary examination of the lived experiences of girls and women football players using theoretical insights from sports studies, psychology, sociology and gender studies. It examines the concept of 'the football self' - your own, personal football identity that encapsulates the importance of football to our everyday lives - and what that can tell us about the complex relationships between sport, family, gender and identity. The book draws on in-depth ethnographic research involving players and family members, and offers important new insights into the everyday experiences of those girls and women who play. It breaks new ground in focusing on the significant relationships between player and family with a particular focus on parenting through football. The book brings to the fore key debates around gender identity, barriers to participation, cultural gaps and discrimination. The author also brings a personal perspective to bear, drawing on experience gained over 20 years as a player, adding an extra critical layer to her important empirical research. This is essential reading for all researchers and students with an interest in football, sport studies or issues around gender, inclusion or the family in sport, and fascinating reading for anybody generally curious about football.

This book offers a timely and critical exploration of leisure and forced migration from multiple disciplinary perspectives, spanning sociology, gender studies, migration studies and anthropology. It engages with perspectives and experiences that unsettle and oppose dehumanising and infantilising binaries surrounding forced migrants in contemporary society. The book presents cutting edge research addressing three inter-related themes: spaces and temporalities; displaced bodies and intersecting inequalities; voices, praxis and (self)representation. Drawing on and expanding critical leisure studies perspectives on class, gender, sexuality and race/ethnicity, the book spotlights leisure and how it can interrogate and challenge dominant narratives, practices and assumptions on forced migration and lives lived in asylum systems. Furthermore, it contributes to current debates on the scope, relevance and aims of leisure studies within the present, unfolding global scenario. This is an important resource for students and scholars across leisure, sport, gender, sociology, anthropology and migration studies. It is also a valuable read for practitioners, advocates and community organisers addressing issues of forced migration and sanctuary.

This book presents a series of fascinating case studies that show how the lives and bodies of clubs, players and fans around the world are enmeshed with politics. It draws on original research in countries including England, Scotland, Ireland, Poland, Mexico, Algeria and Argentina and includes both historical and contemporary perspectives. It explores some of the most important themes in the study of sport, including sectarianism, migration, fan activism and national identity, and shows how football continues to be tied to political events, symbols and movements. This is fascinating reading for any student or researcher working in sport studies, political science, sociology or contemporary history.

Football is ubiquitous and a permanent fixture of modern life. More than a sport, it frequently manifests in broader popular culture. This book examines the significance of football for, and in, popular culture across a wide range of forms, including music, film, and social media. Football and Popular Culture plots a new path in Football Studies, drawing on original research in countries including England, Brazil, Germany, Canada, and Yugoslavia. The book includes both historical and contemporary perspectives, exploring some of the most important themes in the study of sport and culture, including identity, nationalism, fandom, and protest. It presents diverse case studies ranging from sonic violence among Brazilian torcidas organizadas to fanled commemoration of the Munich air disaster, which together help us to better understand the intersection of sport, society, and popular culture. This is fascinating reading for any student or researcher working in sport studies, cultural studies, media studies, sociology, or contemporary history.

Using innovative interpretations of recent big budget films, Coronavirus Capitalism Goes to the Cinema interrogates the social, political and economic landscape during and prior to the COVID-19 crisis and provides lessons for advancing progressive politics in a post-pandemic age. By exploring numerous films including Avengers: Endgame, Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood, 1917, and Parasite, this short book provides a deep understanding about neoliberal society in a time of crisis. Facilitated by the ideas of Emma Goldman, Naomi Klein, Karl Marx, Noam Chomsky and many more, these movies are reinterpreted to point out our political blind spots, combat our non-COVID contagions and inoculate us into ideological herd immunity. From explorations of the supervillain-like decision-making of our political leaders to the inequalities in infection outcomes that sparked further Black Lives Matter protests, this book discusses the central social challenges we face today through the sights and sounds of some of the most beloved films of the very recent past. This entertaining and accessible book will reward readers who are interested in contemporary politics in the context of COVID-19, as well as cinephiles and movie-goers who want fresh interpretations of instant classics to help explain the world around them. More than just informative and amusing, this book is a call to action to those activists who want social change in the face of coronavirus capitalism.

The first book published in either English or Spanish about the cultural significance of Maradona. Covers Maradona as portrayed in fiction literature and cinema, documentary films, non-fiction literature, mass media and music, among other platforms. Includes chapters on Maradona as represented in the culture and media of Argentina, Italy, Mexico, Spain and the UK, highlighting the global appeal of a volume that is already focused on an international figure. By discussing how a sporting icon is constructed, codified, and imagined in popular culture, the book's relevance goes beyond the specific case of Maradona and appeals to any scholars and students interested in the links between sport, culture, and society.