This book represents the first international collection that challenges current thinking and research in the emerging field of nature sport. In simple terms nature sports refer to a group of sporting activities that predominantly take place in natural and rural areas. Participation can be both competitive and recreational, with the primary aim to work with nature rather than against it, where participants seek harmony with nature rather than seeking to conquer it. Within this book, experts from around the globe consider the very essence of nature sport(s), including numerous practical examples of it in action, offering invaluable insights to those both familiar and new to the field. Driven by an increase in non-traditional sports, coupled with growing concerns about the environment, nature sports have experienced significant expansion and interest in both participation and academic debate. Owing to its inherent connections with fields such as business, leisure, health, tourism, and education, academic discourse has attracted perspectives from a wide range of theoretical viewpoints – much of which are discussed within this collection. This book is a valuable resource for students and academics in fields such as alternative sports, alternative sport subcultures, sport philosophy, sport and social issues, ethics, and phenomenology. It is also a fascinating read for outdoor educators and practitioners. The chapters in this book were originally published as special issues in Annals of Leisure Research.

We are entering a new era of leisure. Quality rather than quantity is now the focus of researchers, policymakers and managers. Technological change, an ageing population and a harsh economic climate are changing the values and practices of leisure, as well as the relationship between leisure, society and the individual. Contemporary Perspectives in Leisure uses a variety of disciplinary approaches to introduce the most important trends in contemporary leisure in the Twenty-First Century. With contributions from some of the leading international figures in modern leisure studies, the book examines key philosophical and theoretical debates around leisure, with reference to concepts such as happiness, enjoyment and quality of life, as well as the most interesting contemporary themes in leisure studies, from youth leisure and 'dark' leisure to technology and adventure. Understanding changes in leisure helps us to better understand changes in wider society. Contemporary Perspectives in Leisure is a perfect companion to any course in leisure studies, and useful reading for any student or scholar working in sociology, cultural studies, recreation, tourism, sport, or social psychology.

We are entering a new era of leisure. Quality rather than quantity is now the focus of researchers, policymakers and managers. Technological change, an ageing population and a harsh economic climate are changing the values and practices of leisure, as well as the relationship between leisure, society and the individual. Contemporary Perspectives in Leisure uses a variety of disciplinary approaches to introduce the most important trends in contemporary leisure in the Twenty-First Century. With contributions from some of the leading international figures in modern leisure studies, the book examines key philosophical and theoretical debates around leisure, with reference to concepts such as happiness, enjoyment and quality of life, as well as the most interesting contemporary themes in leisure studies, from youth leisure and 'dark' leisure to technology and adventure. Understanding changes in leisure helps us to better understand changes in wider society. Contemporary Perspectives in Leisure is a perfect companion to any course in leisure studies, and useful reading for any student or scholar working in sociology, cultural studies, recreation, tourism, sport, or social psychology.

Sport heritage is increasingly being recognised as a potent instigator of tourism; be it touring a historic stadium, visiting a sports hall of fame, or participating in a sport fantasy camp, tourists now have a vast array of locations and options to experience the sporting past. This book provides the first comprehensive resource on sport heritage as a tourist attraction. Using theoretical and applied studies from researchers in the United Kingdom, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, this book finds that the sporting past is a key component in tourism's future. The convergence of heritage, sport and tourism involves many different and diverse fields, including sport tourism, heritage tourism, sport management, and sports geography. This book will serve the needs of students, researchers, industry practitioners in these fields, as well as those interested in sport heritage as a tourist attraction. This book was first published, in part, as a special issue of the Journal of Sport Tourism.

Sport heritage is increasingly being recognised as a potent instigator of tourism; be it touring a historic stadium, visiting a sports hall of fame, or participating in a sport fantasy camp, tourists now have a vast array of locations and options to experience the sporting past. This book provides the first comprehensive resource on sport heritage as a tourist attraction. Using theoretical and applied studies from researchers in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand, this book finds that the sporting past is a key component in tourism's future. The convergence of heritage, sport and tourism involves many different and diverse fields, including sport tourism, heritage tourism, sport management, and sports geography. This book will serve the needs of students, researchers, industry practitioners in these fields, as well as those interested in sport heritage as a tourist attraction. This book was first published as a special issue of the Journal of Sport Tourism.

The Olympic Games have evolved into the most prestigious sport event on the planet. As a consequence, each Games generates more and more interest from the academic community. Sociology, politics, geography and history have all played a part in helping to understand the meanings and implications of the Games. Heritage, too, offers invaluable insights into what we value about the Games, and what we would like to pass on to future generations. Each Olympic Games unquestionably represents key life-markers to a broad audience across the world, and the great events that take place within them become worthy of remembrance, celebration and protection. The more tangible heritage features are also evident; from the myriad artefacts and ephemera found in museums to the celebratory symbolism of past Olympic venues and sites that have become visitor attractions in their own right. This edited collection offers detailed and thought-provoking examples of these heritage components, and illustrates powerfully the breadth, passion and cultural significance that the Olympics engender. This book was published as a special issue of the International Journal of Heritage Studies.

The Olympic Games have evolved into the most prestigious sport event on the planet. As a consequence, each Games generates more and more interest from the academic community. Sociology, politics, geography and history have all played a part in helping to understand the meanings and implications of the Games. Heritage, too, offers invaluable insights into what we value about the Games, and what we would like to pass on to future generations. Each Olympic Games unquestionably represents key life-markers to a broad audience across the world, and the great events that take place within them become worthy of remembrance, celebration and protection. The more tangible heritage features are also evident; from the myriad artefacts and ephemera found in museums to the celebratory symbolism of past Olympic venues and sites that have become visitor attractions in their own right. This edited collection offers detailed and thought-provoking examples of these heritage components, and illustrates powerfully the breadth, passion and cultural significance that the Olympics engender. This book was published as a special issue of the International Journal of Heritage Studies.

The influence of baseball heritage in society and culture Baseball's past has been lauded, romanticized, and idealized, and much has been written about both the sport and its history. This is the first volume to explore the understudied side of baseball-how its heritage is understood, interpreted, commodified, and performed for various purposes today. These essays reveal how baseball's heritage can be a source of great enjoyment and inspiration, tracing its influence on constructed environments, such as stadiums and monuments, and food and popular culture. The contributors discuss how its heritage can be used to address social, political, and economic aims and agendas and can reveal tensions about whose past is remembered and whose is laid aside. Contributors address race and racism in the sport, representations of women in baseball, ballparks as repositories for baseball's heritage, and the role of museums in generating the game's heritage narrative. Providing perspectives on the social impact and influence of baseball in the United States, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, the Caribbean, and the United Kingdom, Baseball and Cultural Heritage shows how the performance of baseball heritage can reflect the culture and heritage of a nation. A volume in the series Cultural Heritage Studies, edited by Paul A. Shackel