Dear all,
Last week the following items were published on idrottsforum.org (see below; language and publication dates, YYMMDD, in brackets). Click on the red headings to go to content. Utilize the Google Translate service to turn Scandinavian language pages into (some sort of) English.
Last week the following items were published on idrottsforum.org (see below; language and publication dates, YYMMDD, in brackets). Click on the red headings to go to content. Utilize the Google Translate service to turn Scandinavian language pages into (some sort of) English.And remember, if you’re not already hooked up to one of the social media outlets that we utilize, for now they are Facebook, Bluesky, LinkedIn and X, you’re missing quite a lot of information from idrottsforum.org that never appears on the website. So, if that is the case, check out, by clicking on the names, our Facebook, LinkedIn and X accounts.
Have a great week,
Kjell Eriksson
Editor
Research Article
Sports Spectatorship in the Nordic Countries: The Exceptional Role of Ice Hockey in Finland
In this peer review article, Arto Kuuluvainen examines how sports spectatorship contributes to national identity in the Nordic countries, with a particular focus on the culturally exceptional position of ice hockey in Finland. Using two survey datasets—a comparative Nordic survey from 2022 and Finnish brand-perception data from 2018—the study analyses national pride and satisfaction related to international sporting success, as well as patterns of sports following through media and live attendance. Finland reports the highest levels of sports-related national pride, and ice hockey is the most followed sport in Finland, whereas football dominates in Sweden and Norway. (Published in English in Scandinavian Sport Studies Forum, 260408.
Book Reviews
A thorough psychology of fandom – but where are the women?
The third edition of Sport Fans: The Psychology and Social Impact of Fandom by Daniel L. Wann et al. (Routledge) examines the affective, behavioral, and cognitive reactions of fans to better comprehend how sport impacts individual fans and society as a whole. Our reviewer is Steph Doehler, who approaches this psychology textbook from a sociological angle. The book, she concludes, will remain a core text within its field. However, given the claim that this third edition promises a developed gender perspective she laments the paucity of a discussion about the structural realities of sexism, marginalization, and hostility faced by many women fans. (Review in English, published 260407.)
Impressive history of the World Cup
Since 1930, the World Cup has become a truly global obsession, but it has also been a vehicle for far more than football. Yet there has been no comprehensive history of the tournament. Based on fresh interviews and meticulously researched, Jonathan Wilson’s The Power and the Glory: The History of the World Cup (Bold Types Books) will change that. Our reviewer Łukasz Muniowski is overwhelmed by Wilson’s effort – a brilliant book by a brilliant sports journalist that should impress even the most knowledgeable football fanatics. (Review in English, published 260410.)
Scholarly Journals
Since its inception 23 years ago, idrottsforum.org has been proudly presenting every new issue of almost all scholarly journals within the field of sport studies, widely defined. However, after carefully considering the whole situation – with increasing number of journals and number of issues per journal, as well as our increased social media presence – we have decided to let go of the original ambition; it has become too time-consuming. Henceforth we will publish alerts about new journal issues on our social media accounts (Facebook, InDesign, Bluesky and X), and also special alerts when particularly interesting articles in scholarly journals are published online, giving priority to open access publications. This Scholarly Journals page will list all journals within the extended sport studies field for your information, and we will endeavor to update it with any new titles being launched.
News items (calls for papers, vacancies, etc.)
- Call for Papers | Sport Education for Health, Wellbeing, and Connection, 19th ENSE Forum | University of Applied Sciences Kufstein Tirol, September 24–25, 2026. Call ends June 15, 2026 (260401)
- Call for Papers | “Where research takes the field: Informing decision making, bargaining, and practice in sport”, the inaugural World Players Institute conference, Trinity College Dublin, October 27–28, 2026 | Call ends May 31, 2026 (260407)
- Utlysning – oppdateret | Stipendiatstilling [doktorandtjänst] på fagområdet lærerutdanning, vid Norges idrettshøgskole | Søknadsfrist 2026-05-03 (260409)
