ABSTRACT Conceptualising the youth representative as an institutional role, we explore the institutional shaping of youth representatives as change agents in the governance of sport organisations. Focusing on how these shaping conditions who the youth representative can be and what determines the scope of their role fulfilment, including the impact of their work on established institutional orders, allows us to examine the shaping of agency related to governance institutions. Data is drawn from a questionnaire centred on the experiences of young people in sport governance (n = 32) and semi-structured interviews with 10 representatives of organisations affiliated with the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederations of Sports. The role of the youth representatives is scripted in terms of who the representatives ought to be and what they ought to do. The scripting associated with the operationalisation of this ambition into role pre- and proscriptions stands in stark contrast to the ideal of youth representatives as agents of institutional change. Our study of the scripting of institutional roles has theoretical implications because it shows how normative typifications that link notions of actors with actorhood circumscribe institutional work pertaining to change.

ABSTRACT This study aimed at assessing why women’s sport is not included in the Brazilian decision-making agenda, in addition to show some alternatives to overcome this condition. Six female sport stakeholders were interviewed. The interviews were carried out in 2022, transcribed and analysed by using Bardin’s Content Analysis (2011). It was concluded that women’s sport does not enter the decision-making agenda due to the fact that it is not considered a political problem and because there are no women’s political movements in Brazil. As alternatives, it is essential to have representativeness of women in sport, especially in leadership positions, visibility on the topic, and to create policies, plans and projects aimed at women’s sport.

ABSTRACT Using Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory, this qualitative case study aimed to explore how the online school sport clubs (O-SSC) were developed and administered as a counteraction against the pandemic and the meanings of the O-SSC from stakeholders’ perspectives in South Korea. Data were collected from official and open-source O-SSC materials, working-level meeting logs, and in-depth interviews with six policy stakeholders that included superintendents and teachers in Seoul, South Korea. The findings revealed four themes regarding the development of the policy and perceived changes as a result of the implementation of O-SSC: (a) thinking outside the box beyond traditional sports, (b) melting the frozen gym, (c) setting the stage beyond stereotypes in sport and physical spaces, and (d) unlimited opportunities to challenge: ‘you can try it again tomorrow’. The discussion addressed the following: (a) O-SSC as a domino effect for youth development through sport and (b) balance between sportisation and healthisation. The O-SSC generated a transformative chain of changes, providing youths with a new sporting developmental asset and prioritising students’ basic psychological needs and motivation. Furthermore, it embraced the inclusiveness, a quality missing in traditional school sport, and integrated aspects of physical fitness to tackle the adolescents’ physical inactivity caused by COVID-19. To conclude, it is imperative to call for the development of school sport policy that is more adaptive, inclusive, and future-oriented, not just to prepare for future contingencies but to embrace new possibilities of school sport for the benefit of school-age adolescents.

ABSTRACT On 7 October 2021, a controversial takeover of the English Premier League team Newcastle United Football Club saw an 80% stake acquired by the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), the country’s sovereign wealth fund. Public discussion and media coverage of the takeover has revolved almost entirely around the concept of ‘sportswashing’ – the practice of (usually) undemocratic regimes using sporting investments to ‘cleanse’ or enhance their reputation and deflect attention away from human rights abuses. This article examines the Newcastle takeover, interrogating the widespread portrayal of it as a clear-cut case of sportswashing, and explores alternative explanations for the purchase, and potentially other sports-related investments. Drawing broadly on scholarship by Bourdieu and scholars of the Arabian Peninsula, it argues that the concept of sportswashing as it is currently used limits discussion of wider, more complex social, political and economic entanglements.

ABSTRACT This study analyses and explains how the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) acquired and retains monopoly and monopsony power over Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in a complex political, legal, regulatory, and financial context. A qualitative and interpretive approach to research underpins a thematic analysis of social media and journalistic content alongside a review of a limited academic literature. It is found that the UFC has acquired and retained monopoly and monopsony power in a context of weak regulation, limited competition, ineffective legal and political intervention, and an absence of unionisation. The three key strategies employed by the UFC to sustain power over MMA were found to be 1. control of athlete labour via restrictive contracts; 2. acquisition of competitor promotions, expertise, and commercial contracts; and 3. building reputation and legitimacy via public relations and lobbying activities. The UFC has employed a combination of legitimate, referent, reward, expert, informational, and coercive power to become the dominant organisation in MMA.

ABSTRACT Athlete maltreatment has become ‘one of the greatest concerns faced by governing bodies, authorities and practitioners in sport’ (Stirling 2009, p. 1901). Its causes broadly stem from: (1) the culture and authority structures in organised sport; (2) the limited legal rights of athletes; and (3) a fragmented system of organisational oversight. Cutting across these causes is the distinct ‘policy mix’ within the elite sport system itself. Drawing upon a theoretical framework located within ‘new institutionalism’ and an interpretive qualitative approach using document analysis and semi-structured interviews, this investigation focuses on how policy instruments (e.g. programmes, rules, budgets, etc.) combine to shape/reinforce the behaviour and views of athletes, coaches, and administrators. Findings show that the policy instruments within the existing hierarchical structure of the elite sport system are interconnected and complement each other to mutually facilitate the attainment of elite sport success. Overall, this study suggests that the mix of policy instruments aimed at achieving the state’s sport/political objectives may sustain and reinforce maltreatment.

ABSTRACT In the aftermath of Brexit’s referendum polls, there were many predictions as to what its impact would be for the United Kingdom. While its socio-economic consequences have often featured as the main topic of discussion, this may lead to people overlooking its significance regarding its redefining of the British political community. One social field in particular which may see these dynamics play out is sports. More particularly, looking at England’s favourite pastime, football and its top division, the Premier League, can be quite revealing in understanding how sports can contribute to defining the nation. Following from this idea, the theoretical framework of boundary-making processes is applied to the Premier League and its Brexit contextualisation. The findings from this approach demonstrate the government’s underlying efforts in redefining the country’s political community away from Europe through the sports regulation changes associated with Brexit. However, these are also found to be mitigated by the influence of external actors.

ABSTRACT Historically, women have suffered from the effects of inequality in most social, economic, political and cultural spheres. In this paper, discrimination against women in sport is analysed on the basis of a set of empirical data on the inequal participation of men and women in sport. In particular, three Catalan sports regulations are analysed. To this end, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) is taken as our frame of reference; more specifically, two instruments that are proposed therein to reduce women’s inequality: the gender perspective and gender mainstreaming.

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the multifaceted dimensions of sport promotion, development, and integrity within the context of men’s football in Europe. It specifically focuses on the impact of a newly introduced competition, the UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) Nations League (UNL), on these three dimensions. The study utilises a dataset comprising 1,058 games played over two distinct periods: 503 games from 2014–2016 (pre-UNL) and 555 games from 2018–2021 (UNL era). The primary areas of interest are competitive balance (CB) and competitive intensity (CI), measured at the intra-match (both CB and CI) and post-match (CB only) levels, and fairness. Regressions and statistical tests were conducted to explain the determinants of CB and compare CB and CI between both periods. The analysis reveals that CB deteriorated, primarily attributed to changing incentives for the strongest and weakest teams during Euro qualifying matches. By contrast, CI increased due to the UNL’s replacement of most friendly games. While recent literature has raised potential fairness issues due to the establishment of the UNL, findings of this study suggest that the integrity of national men’s football team competitions and games in Europe remained intact during this period. This article advances knowledge of CB and CI. Besides, it also provides empirical evidence that the UNL did not compromise the fairness of national men’s football team competitions and games in Europe. By bringing CB, CI, and fairness together, this study highlights the crucial role of sports organisations in promoting and developing their sport, while also safeguarding its integrity.