That Was The Week That Was,
September 22–28, 2025

September 29, 2025

Dear all,

Being the review editor (as well) of idrottsforum.org, also a bookish kind of guy in general and by way of being a book publisher, I spent a few days last week at the annual Gothenburg Book Fair in Göteborg, Sweden, which accounts for the bulk of activities at the Forum happening in the first half of the week. Having listened to a number of authors and critics and trade people and seen an enormous amount of new books of all, ALL, kinds, it’s hard to embrace the idea, advanced quite frequently of late, that the printed book is, or soon will be, a thing of the past. We’ll certainly do our bit in promoting the book as readable physical object rather than as a thing of the past.

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, Bluesky, LinkedIn and X accounts.

Have a great week,
Kjell Eriksson
Editor

Research Article

Norwegian Friluftsliv Organizations and Social Media: Equity, Representation, and Influence

This study by Simon Kennedy Beames and Edgar Le Guyade critically examined how five major Norwegian friluftsliv organizations use Instagram to represent women; Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC); and people with disabilities. Using a netnographic and visual case study approach, 1,344 images from 2023-2024 were analyzed. Findings reveal relatively strong representation of women (approx. 32% of images), yet BIPOC individuals (5%) and people with disabilities (<1%) remain severely underrepresented. These omissions reinforce narrow ideals of Norwegian outdoor identity. (Published in English 250922.)

Norske friluftslivsorganisasjoner og sosiale medier: Rettferdighet, representasjon og innflytelse

Denne studien av Simon Kennedy Beames og Edgar Le Guyade undersøker kritisk hvordan fem sentrale norske friluftslivsorganisasjoner bruker Instagram til å representere kvinner, Black, Indigenous, People of Colour (BIPOC) og personer med funksjonsnedsettelser. Ved hjelp av en netnografisk og visuell casestudietilnærming ble 1 344 bilder fra 2023–2024 analysert. Funnene viser en relativt sterk representasjon av kvinner (omtrent 32% av innleggene), mens BIPOC-individer (5%) og personer med funksjonsnedsettelser (<1%) forblir sterkt underrepresentert. (Published in Norwegian 250922.)

Book Reviews

Much-needed anthology with some powerful chapters, albeit with a narrow focus and a lack of details

Playing out where they live is a social justice issue for children. (Image from playingout.ne).

In Play and Social Justice: Equality, Advocacy, and Opportunity (Peter Lang Publishing), editors Olga S. Jarrett, Vera L. Stenhouse, John A. Sutterby and Michael M. Patte with a host of renowned childhood and play scholars elaborate on the importance of play, and the importance of every child’s right to play. Our reviewer Wendy Russell has been heavily involved in a series of philosophy of play conferences in England, and welcomes this volume and its social justice perspective on play. A few critical points notwithstanding, she welcomes this contributions to the body of literature in the field. (Review in English, published 250923.)

Coloniality perplexingly underplayed in an otherwise valuable study of sporting nationhood

Reindeer racing championships in Inari, northern Finland, Races are held annually on frozen Lake Inari and are a highlight of the Sami sporting calendar. (Shutterstock/Paul Harding 00)

Eivind Å. Skille’s Indigenous Sport and Nation-Building: Interrogating Sámi Sport and Beyond (Routledge) investigates the social, political, and cultural dimensions of Indigenous sport and nation-building, focusing on the Indigenous Sámi of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. Our reviewer Malcolm MacLean appreciates the tripartite structure of the study with The Club as a central analytical site, while also pointing out that the poorly developed notions of colonization and coloniality has consequences for the overall analysis. (Review in English, published 250924.)

All about the Super Bowl – the good, the bad, and the lists

SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA. Super Bowl 56, February 13, 2022. National Anthem rehearsal. (Shutterstock/Elliott Cowand Jr)

Celebrating the Super Bowl: Programs, Profits, Parties (Common Ground) by Linda K. Fuller, Professor Emerita of Communications at Worcester State University, is indeed a celebration, albeit not uncritical, of what is considered one of the world’s most significant sporting events. Our reviewer is Alan Bairner, an avid fan of Association Football with very little interest (and understanding) of American Football. It’s thus a tribute to the author that she managed to present the NFL highlight of the year so as to make our reviewer enjoy it immensely. (Review in English, published 250924.)