That Was The Week That Was, or A Summer Well Spent,
June 24 — September 1, 2024

Dear all,

It’s all a matter of finding balance in life – in general of course, but specifically in the life of this editor, a balance between work and leisure – at any given time, but especially during the summer break. And I think I found it this summer!

The rule is, no original texts are to be published between Midsummer and the start of the fall semester, when August turns into September (because site views are down 50–60%). However, information about new issues of scholarly journals as well as various calls for papers will be published. This summer I received a few original manuscripts for the Feature Article section, which I decided to publish, while at the same time accepted that I could not publicize every new journal issue or every new Call. So there, I found a balance in work duties that allowed me to get some work done and also enjoy a leisurely summer in our little country cottage (with superfast broadband), poking around in the garden, enjoying a bit of accidentally organized horticulture. There was even time for a few days of garden safari in the southeast of England, visiting, among other places, Great Dixter, Christopher Lloyd’s amazing gardens, and Charleston, historic home of Vanessa Bell and others from the Bloomsbury crowd. Great stuff!

But enough about me, how did you all fare this summer?

So, back to business. Over the summer months 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.

Have a great week,
Kjell Eriksson
Editor

Feature Articles

Sociology of sport as a diverse and inclusive community

This paper by Lone Friis Thing explores various perspectives within the sociology of sport in a European context, critically reflecting upon editorial essays concerning the topic over time. The focus is on multiple issues germane to the debate. Firstly, she analyzes what Malcolm (2018) terms as the apparent “threats and opportunities” confronting the sociology of sport, connecting this theme to publication strategies and politics within the field. Secondly, she delves into the hegemonic tendency of Anglophone reviewers, as identified by Evans and Thiel (2019) in an editorial. (Published in English 240627.)

Behind the rhetoric: Olympic gender equality beyond the numbers

In this feature article, Michele K. Donnelly argues that the suggestion that the Paris 2024 Games are gender equal is not only misleading, it is harmful. While it is important to celebrate achievements that move the Olympic Games closer to gender equality, it is crucial that we critically consider the claims by the International Olympic Committee about gender equality and hold the IOC and international sport federations accountable. Gender equality has not yet been achieved, and will not be achieved if we stop demanding it. (Published in English 240702.)

With Olympics approaching, it’s time to recognize children as a protected class in sport

In most areas of society, children are afforded a protected status that safeguards their health and well-being. However, in sport, children are often denied such protection due to the autonomy of sport organizations and the belief that sport has certain inherent characteristics that set it apart from other social institutions (i.e., the specificity of sport). In this reprinted Conversation piece Peter Donnelly and Marcus Mazzucco argue for children to be recognized as a protected class in sport. (Published in English 270702.)

The agony of PT Usha: A second national heartbreak decades after Milkha Singh

As PT Usha travels to Paris as the President of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA), Boria Majumdar reflects on her feat as an athlete 40 years ago in Los Angeles, when history of sorts was made: the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) picked five women in a contingent of eight athletes. With minimal preparations, Usha came within 1/100 of a second to win an Olympic bronze medal in hurdles in the 1984 Summer Games. (Published in English 240720.)

Will to Power: Revaluating (Female) Empowerment in Fitspiration

In this feature article, Aurélien Daudi summarizes his article in Sport, Ethics and Philosophy, in which he presents his study of the widespread social media culture surrounding fitness, ‘fitspiration’, and the way it encourages self-sexualization and self-objectification. Drawing on Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy of power and its relationship to human flourishing, this article aims to critically examine the conception of female empowerment expressed in fitspiration and to conceptualize a philosophically compelling reformulation of universal human empowerment. (Published in English 240726.)

When Indian athletes refused to “Heil Hitler” at Berlin Olympics

At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the Indians were the only contingent apart from the Americans not to perform the raised-arm salute as a mark of obeisance to the German Chancellor. British-loyalist newspapers were more focused on the defiant US contingent, making only a brief mention of what the Indians did. Boria Majumdar traces the background to the Indian decision not to salute Hitler. (Published in English 240728.)

New Blog Posts

Rettferdiggjorte fremfor fremmedgjorte emosjoner: NRKs VAR-debatt [Justified rather than alienated emotions: NRK’s ​​VAR debate], by Mads Skauge

In NRK’s ​​VAR debate, the VAR positivists’ front-runner Leif Welhaven is again the premise provider. Again he misses. Therefore, I allow myself to elaborate on the counterarguments.Welhaven is our best sports commentator, but sloppy with VAR. Why he loves football, or if he does, is unclear. It cannot be about justice, because VAR is not about weighing justice against emotions. Or: If that is the core of the debate, as it is, VAR has lost. I will show why, in this definitive final word on the tool that haunts our football. (Published in Norwegian 240702.)

”Pretty in pink” – How a Football Jersey Changed Germany (…maybe?), by Leah Monsees

Not too long ago, in 2023, the Barbie movie became the biggest debut ever for a film directed by a woman. In one of the main songs in the movie – “Pink” sung by Lizzo – the singer happily and confidently claims that “pink goes with everything”. However, and while there is always a possibility for the impossible, I highly doubt that she had football in mind when writing these lines. What Barbie, Lizzo, and the German Football Association (DFB hereafter) do have in common, however, is that – apparently – they all have a love and appreciation for the color that is so typically associated with femininity and, you guessed it, women. (Published in English 240706.)

On not seeing, when Power recognises its marginalised: opening ceremonies, AfroBeats, hair, and roses, by Malcolm MacLean

I don’t care much for the Olympics – they reek to me of everything that is wrong with corporatized sport, increasingly privatized cities, and the normalization of coercive security State. We can see the 2024-version of that State in fenced-off downtown Paris where residents have QR codes to allow them access to their homes. I can’t help but wonder at the data troves flowing to Big Tech from that – a trajectory we have been on since the US security state privatised collection and retention of tech-related data in the wake of 9/11, close to quarter of a century ago. All this makes me grateful to on-the-ground social movements and critical journalists and analysts who keep these issues in our sight. (Published in English 240727.)

Tribunesliternes revansj: En ny klubbdemokratisk vind i norsk fotball [A new club democratic wind in Norwegian football], by Mads Skauge

Almost 2,000 club registrations during one weekend (and 350,000 in membership quotas) in Bodø/Glimt is unique in Norwegian football history. How did we end up here? In that context, one must try to understand how the VAR protests have developed and why, how the clubs are put in a tight spot in their response, and a little about Bodø’s football cultural local history.Seen from a bird’s eye view, what is unfolding is a bit absurd: One of the best Norwegian teams of all time is cheered, which is cruising towards yet another gold and is on the threshold of the Champions League, but off the field there is conflict upon conflict. Now it has to stop. (Published in Norwegian 240828.)

New Issues of Scholarly Journals

(We’re currently reviewing this service, since it’s a rather time-consuming undertaking. In the meanwhile we’re presenting some of the journals in line with the Forum’s core mission.)

• International Review for the Sociology of Sport, Vol. 59, 2024, No. 4 (240707)
• Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, Volume 29, 2024, Issue 3 (240707)
• Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society, Vol, 29, Issue 2, 2024 | Just a Game? Sport and Psychoanalytic Theory (240707)
• Physical Education and Sport Pedagogy, Volume 29, 2024, Issue 4 (240711)
• Sport in Society, Volume 27, 2024, Issue 7 (240724)
• Sport in Society, Volume 27, 2024, Issue 8 | Sport and Parenthood (240725)
• European Sport Management Quarterly, Volume 24, 2024, Issue 4 (240728)
• Sport in History, Volume 44, 2024, Issue 2 | Women as Sports Coaches: A ‘Herstory’ (240730)
• The International Journal of the History of Sport, Volume 41, 2024, Issue 4 (240730)
• The International Journal of the History of Sport, Volume 41, 2024, Issue 5 | ISHPES Congress 2022 (240801)
• Journal of Sport Management, Volume 38, 2024, Issue 4 (240803)
• Managing Sport and Leisure, Volume 29, 2024, Issue 4 (240813)
• Journal of the Philosophy of Sport, Volume 51, 2024, Issue 2 (240813)
• Communication & Sport, Vol. 12, 2024, No. 4 (240814)
• Sport in Society, Volume 27, 2024, Issue 9 (240815)
• Journal of Sport for Development, Vol. 11, 2024, Issue 2 (240821)
• Leisure Studies, Volume 43, 2024, Issue 4 (240822)
• Journal of Adventure Education & Outdoor Learning, Volume 24, 2024, Issue 3 (240822)
• The International Journal of the History of Sport, Volume 41, 2024, Issue 6 (240826)
• The Physical Educator, Vol. 81, 2024, No. 4 (240901)
• Journal of Sport History, Volume 50, 2023, Number 2 (240901)

News items (calls for papers, vacancies, etc.)

• Call for Papers | ”Integrity, Health and Governance Issues in Esports and Virtual Sports”, Special Issue of Performance Enhancement & Health | Call ends October 1, 2024 (240628)
• Call for Papers | Frontiers Research Topic: “Sports for Slow Tourism Enhancing Habitats”. Call ends August 30, 2024 (240707)
• Call for Papers | “Sport and Politics: Contexts, Connections, Confrontations”, Special Issue of Acta Universitatis Carolinae – Studia Territorialia | Call ends July 15, 202 (240711)
• Call for Papers | “Governance and policymaking in the Western Balkans toward European Union integration”, Special Issue of NISPAcee Journal of Public Policy | Call ends October 21, 2024 (240712)
• Call for Papers | “Novel Insights into Sports History”, Special Issue of Histories | Call ends December 24, 2024 (240714)
• Call for Presentations | The 2025 Global Sport Business Association (GSBA) Cruise Conference | Royal Caribbean’s “Independence of the Seas” cruise ship, February 21–24, 2025. Call ends August 31, 2025 (240726)
• Call for abstracts and manuscripts for the Topic ”Sustainability-Oriented Learning in Physical Education and Health (PEH)”. Call ends April 15, 2025 (240814)
• Announcing PhD Course: Culture, Sport and Society | Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport (NEXS), University of Copenhagen, November 11–15, 2024 (240819)
• Call for Papers | “Olympic Games of Esports”, Special Section of Olimpianos. Journal of Olympic Studies. Call ends September 30, 2024 (240826)
• Call for Participation | “Building a Sport Ecosystem”, celebrating the launch of the Pakistan Sports Knowledge Cluster | Zoom, August 29, 2024 (240828)