International Sports Research Articles

Deaths and clashes induced by rivalry among fans during FIFA World Cup 2022 in Bangladesh.

International sports events like the Football World Cup affect the collective emotions of the global community. Usually, major sports events like the Football World Cup show beneficial effects on the community. However, many unwanted consequences such as accidents, premature deaths and violent supporter rivalries have been noticed during it. We aimed to report preventable premature deaths and clashes induced by rivalry among fans during the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Bangladesh. We monitored local newspaper reports for data collection during the World Cup 2022 event and collected data for age, sex, the possible cause of death, and precipitating events related to the event. We found 23 World Cup Football-related deaths, 35 hospitalizations, and 45 injuries related to clashes between the rival fans of Argentina and Brazil. The median age of deceased was 20 years. The majority of the deaths happened in young males due to fall while hoisting flags. Deaths in the late age happened due to sudden emotional upsurge during the game day. And, clashes between rival fans mostly happened due to social bullying favoring and disfavoring a team. This report indicates an important area of potentially preventable death related to World Cup Football and warrants public health attention even in a non-participating country, both locally and internationally.

ESTRATÉGIAS DE CONFORTO AMBIENTAL PARA QUADRAS FECHADAS VOLTADAS A ESPORTES DE ALTO RENDIMENTO

Sports architecture, with its particularities, is essential to optimize the efficiency of environments, considering the specific needs of each sport. This article addresses environmental comfort strategies applied to indoor courts intended for high-performance sports, highlighting the importance of an architecturally planned environment to ensure the well-being of athletes and optimize their performance. The study focuses on thermal, visual, acoustic and ergonomic aspects, and analyzes how each of these factors influences sports performance. In addition, it explores the interaction between the body and the physical environment, proposing solutions that favor the creation of functional and comfortable spaces for sports practice and competitive events. The research, of a bibliographic and exploratory nature, brings together concepts of environmental psychology and athletic performance, in addition to highlighting the construction strategies of ventilation, lighting and acoustic control that can be applied to indoor courts with the aim of promoting human well-being. The work proposes solutions so that sports centers offer adequate conditions for sports practice, supporting the creation of environments that favor both the satisfaction and the enhancement of the performance of athletes. From this study, it is possible to define the importance of the preparation and competition environment in the performance of high-performance athletes, and architecture, linked to environmental comfort, is shown to be a tool for the development of these spaces, essential for success in national and international sports competitions.

How does brand authenticity influence brand loyalty? Exploring the roles of brand attachment and brand trust

PurposeThe study aims to delve into the interactive relationships among brand authenticity, brand attachment, brand trust and brand loyalty using the ERC authenticity framework, exploring the potential mechanisms and different configurations affecting brand loyalty through brand authenticity.Design/methodology/approachAbout 446 valid samples were collected through an online survey of Chinese consumers of international sports brands. Structural equation modeling (SEM) and fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) were employed to test the research hypotheses.FindingsSEM results indicate significant positive correlations among brand true-to-ideal authenticity, true-to-fact authenticity and true-to-self authenticity. All dimensions of brand authenticity exert notable positive impacts on brand attachment, brand trust and brand loyalty. Brand true-to-ideal authenticity, true-to-fact authenticity and true-to-self authenticity not only directly influence consumer brand loyalty but also indirectly affect it through brand attachment and brand trust; fsQCA results reveal five heterogeneous configurations to predict brand loyalty.Originality/valueThis study not only uses SEM to validate the structural relationships among the three dimensions of brand authenticity and their linear relationships with brand attachment, brand trust and brand loyalty but also uses fsQCA to identify nonlinear relationships between concepts. It extends complexity theory to the research field of brand authenticity–brand loyalty. Furthermore, based on the research results, this study provides management suggestions for brand managers and marketers.

Capitalizing on sport labor migration: The role of ethnic capitalism in the discriminatory, regulatory, and exploitative environment for international college athletes in the United States

International college athletes (ICAs) are integral to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and lie at a particular social location as they are international students and college sport laborers. However, little research examines the discriminatory regulations toward ICAs by the NCAA, its member institutions, and the US federal government. Recent court rulings that permit college athletes to monetize their name, image, and likeness (NIL) do not benefit ICAs because of outdated and exclusionary restrictions imposed by federal immigration policies, visa laws, and US tax laws, which prohibit ICAs from having equitable rights, building their personal brand and professional careers. To examine the discrimination, regulation, and exploitation of ICAs by the US federal government and the NCAA, we apply the theory of ethnic capitalism, which highlights the marginalization of groups based on their ethnicity and national origin. In this setting, ICAs are treated as bodies of athletic labor, recruited for institutional gain and athletic program reputation to benefit US higher education institutions (HEIs). To conclude, we propose the need for the NCAA and its member institutions to treat ICAs equitably and include, support, and advocate for them, specifically regarding their inclusion in NIL on US lands.

Neutrality of the Olympic Movement against recent developments in sport and geopolitics – need of reconceptualisation

AbstractThe Olympic Movement’s response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine underlines an existing dilemma on political neutrality and how the governance of sport has struggled to come to terms with the principle of political neutrality. The status of Russian and Belarussian athletes and teams in international sports is an ongoing disputative matter for the governance of sport. This paper aims to contribute to conceptional clarity concerning the principle of political neutrality and to spell out a specific application of political neutrality to the Olympic Movement in recognition of its commitment to human rights and promotion of peace. Accordingly, it observes neutrality in the practice of the Olympic Movement and challenges the applicability of the principle of neutrality in the social realm around politics and capitalism. The findings highlight the discrepancy between the Olympic Movement’s policies on political neutrality and its governance that eventually erode the autonomy of sport. The paper concludes by arguing for the need of reconceptualisation of the neutrality principle in (Olympic) sport. To address future global challenges that violate fundamental principles of international law, the paper proposes the incorporation of transparent procedures and limitations.

#WhatWouldYouDo? A cross-sectional study of sports medicine physicians assessing their competency in managing harassment and abuse in sports

ObjectivesTo assess the clinical competence of sports medicine physicians to recognise and report harassment and abuse in sports, and to identify barriers to reporting and the need for safeguarding education.MethodsWe...

Centralizing an ecological sport psychology through science-practice dialectics

There has been considerable discussion for more than 50 years of how scientists and practitioners in elite level sport can work collaboratively to ensure that evidence-based practice augments the sport performance and human development of elite amateur and professional athletes. The bridging of these two, often disparate competencies, science and practice, though considered at the conceptual level, continues to be scarcely evidenced within the international sport science community. Much of the research that frames the experiences of elite athletes and their consequent needs, is heavily influenced by scientists, often without direct reciprocity to bridge science, theory, and applied context. The knowledge influencing these interventions has derived from qualitative methods, such as semi-structured interviews, surveys, and focus groups, as well as a breadth of psychometric assessments. Though these approaches to gathering robust data are a necessary part of inquiry, they often produce decontextualized data collection strategies and results, which can lead to generalized, ineffective practices in sport performance environments. Within this submission, the first author cooperated with an international team of scientist-practitioners who are well versed in elite sport to delineate ecologically sound science-practice reciprocity. The authors consider the strengths and weaknesses of conventional qualitative research strategies in terms of their utility and the parlance of evidence into intervention and world-class performance. Two emerging, context driven approaches to inquiry are proposed; arts-based methods and an idiosyncratic approach to ethnography to encourage the reader toward an expanded selection of inquiry approaches from which better understanding and intervention can be generated. This contribution conclude with summary points to open further possibilities for innovative science to practice approaches.

International sports federations as de facto lawmakers: Queer-feminist explorations of the gendered power of sports law

Abstract This article analyses the law-making power of international sports federations, with a specific focus on their authority of shaping global norms on gender. It explores a variety of international sporting rules from feminist and queer perspectives. These include the ban of rainbow armbands at the 2022 FIFA (Men’s) World Cup, rules on the participation of transgender persons in rugby, gendered and racialized uniform regulations in sports, and the Semenya case concerning the sports participation of women with variations in sex characteristics The analysis asserts that despite being non-state actors, international sports federations are de facto international lawmakers that disseminate hegemonic gender norms reflecting cis-hetero-sexism and white body norms. However, analysing the Semenya case and the decision of the Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case shows that the law-making power of international sports federations in shaping gender norms is not absolute but embedded in a transnational network of norms. The article concludes that subjecting international sports federations to a feminist, queer, and anti-racist legal analysis assists in understanding how hegemonic norms on gender circulate transnationally and enhances knowledge on how international law works in practice.

How Sports Involvement and Brand Fit Influence the Effectiveness of Sports Sponsorship from the Perspective of Predictive Coding Theory: An Event-Related Potential (ERP)-Based Study.

Background/Objectives: With the rapid expansion of the global sports market, the significance of sports sponsorship has attracted growing attention. However, during the golden age of the sports industry's development in China, international sports brand giants such as Nike, Adidas, and Under Armour have rapidly captured a substantial share of the Chinese sports consumer market through their distinctive product designs and varied marketing strategies. This has resulted in a highly competitive environment for China's sports goods industry. Therefore, fostering the improved development of domestic sports brands has become a crucial issue deserving of thorough scholarly investigation. This study examines how consumers' differing levels of sports involvement and the degree of fit between the sponsoring brand and the sponsored event affect their cognitive and emotional responses to sports sponsorships. Methods: By employing Predictive Coding Theory and ERP (event-related potential) brainwave technology, this study delves into the psychological and neurobiological levels to analyze the impact of consumer sports involvement on the processing of sponsorship information. Results: The results indicate significant differences in cognitive and emotional responses between high-involvement and low-involvement consumers. Additionally, the fit between the sponsoring brand and the sponsored event also significantly affects consumers' cognitive and emotional responses. These differences stem from consumers' complex and sophisticated predictive coding models. Conclusions: This study not only provides scientific evidence for sports brands in selecting and executing sponsorship activities, but also offers new perspectives for evaluating and optimizing sponsorship effectiveness.

Sports Narratives and Historical Nationalism: Re-Visiting the Context and Use of Field Hockey in Chak De! India

Indian cinema is known for its dramatic narratives that celebrate emotionally elevated visual spectacles through which people from different sociocultural backgrounds come across popular domains of cultural practices, social norms and historical realities that unify them. Field hockey belongs to the popular realm of sports in India which is part of the country’s national identity. India’s participation and success in field hockey at the Olympic Games make it one of the country’s most successful international sports. Indian film narratives about field hockey help to create public discourse about how the sport has historically played a role in shaping national pride and identity in India. Hockey evokes nationalism by symbolizing historical achievements, unity, and cultural identity, inspiring pride and patriotism through the portrayal of heroes, national symbols, and emotional narratives in media and public discourse. The film Chak De! India portrays Indian hockey as a patriotic unifying national narrative and as an empowering discourse that can upend traditional gender stereotypes. It delineates that hockey not only acts as a sports game for entertainment but is an indicator of nationalistic significance and cultural identity that elevates the emotional realm of Indians through the notion of patriotism.

Environment as a vulnerability factor for doping: a qualitative examination of Indian track and field athletes’ hurdles to compete clean

ABSTRACT India has one of the highest rates of doping, without accompanying international sporting success. Research on doping and developing countries has been sparse, and cases, such as India, warrant exploration. One approach to examining such a phenomenon is to move beyond interpersonal explanations and explore the athletes’ environment. Although environmental influence on athletes’ doping has been underscored, previous research in this regard has been limited. Hence this study explored the factors that contribute to Indian athletes’ vulnerability to doping by accounting for situational and systematic factors in the environment. Using a qualitative methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-one elite Indian track and field athletes of which seven admitted using prohibited substances. Athletes discussed factors that influence their vulnerability to doping. Through data analysis, the following four themes were developed: (a) Coaching Structure and Deference, (b) Obligations, (c) Limited Oversight and Enforcement, and (d) Doping Reinforcement. Together, these themes highlight that the distinct cultural nuances within Indian society, pressure from, and interactions among influential others, the lack of coach development, added incentives, coupled with limited trust in anti-doping organizations engender a system where doping is openly witnessed. Moreover, the results demonstrate the interactions among environmental levels, illustrative of a complex system where doping is an emergent product. This study provides insights into the challenges of managing dopin in a developing country and highlights the need for research in the Global South and for structural interventions to effectively prevent doping rather than just focus on the individual athlete level.

Event Bidding Success Factors of Malaysia’s Business Events: Exploring the Potential Gap in Destination Selection Attributes

Understanding the destination selection attributes is crucial for the survival of the business events industry at any destination. This is particularly pertinent in the business events industry, where competition is strong in the current economic situation. As the landscape of business events continues to evolve, destinations must strategically position themselves to attract and retain these valuable gatherings. The decision-making regarding the selection of the business event destination is prone to be influenced by various potential attributes that are yet to be determined through further exploration. The association or event organizer may exercise their judgment or discretion in selecting the venue, giving them a great deal of flexibility. For Malaysia to be the preferred destination and improve its ranking in international business events especially in Asia Pacific, the products and services supply must be relevant and meet the expectations of the external market. Despite the importance of the business event industry, much of the existing scholarly work has been predominantly focused on the destination selection attributes for leisure and international sports events only. Thus, this paper aims to extend the body of knowledge by investigating whether similar outcomes can be elicited when it comes to business events, with a particular emphasis on understanding the concept and attributes within the context of Malaysian business event associations. Additionally, this study will assist the local hosting and organizations to develop their bid and marketing strategies appropriately by offering exceptional products and services that are customized to meet the expectations of their intended associations.

Sports Facility Development and Politics in Budapest since 1945

The interaction between sports and politics has extensively contributed to shaping the sports system, which is evident in the creation of sports facilities and institutions in Hungary. The legal framework of sports organizations, potential of elite and grassroots athletes, incorporation of Hungarian sports into the international sports structure, and public financial funding of physical activity have been dependent on the dominant political powers and existing international diplomatic relationships. The history of sports facility development in Budapest and the role of capital in organising international sporting events faced new political challenges after World War II. During the socialist era, the main role of sports was to prove the excellence of the socialist system; therefore, political leadership provided funds to create a suitable environment for top athletes to train and compete. After the political and economic transition of 1989–1990, sports encountered the challenges of an unfamiliar market economy. After a decade of adaptation, from the beginning of the twenty-first century, sports assumed a new strategic role in creating a healthier society, which included significant investments in Budapest’s sports infrastructure.

Foodservice strategies for reducing athlete illness at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In 2021, infection control guidelines, including those specific to feeding environments, were introduced by the International Olympic and Paralympic Committees to reduce virus transmission at the Tokyo 2020 Summer and Beijing 2022 Winter games. This observational cross-sectional study aimed to investigate caterers' compliance to these guidelines which included measures for personal hygiene, sanitisation, and physical distancing at these events. Expert sport dietitians attending Tokyo (n = 15) and Beijing (n = 7) games were surveyed to rate 11 COVID-19 countermeasures as fully (100%), partially or non-compliant at nine dining locations across both events. Descriptive analysis of each countermeasure based on observed compliance and location was conducted and reported as a proportion of the total responses. To better understand participant perspectives of the factors influencing compliance, open responses were systematically coded into themes and sub-themes by researchers through content analysis. Themes generated from participant comments were categorised based on their relevance to specific countermeasures and locations to identify commonalities and disparities in participant experiences, perceptions, and observations. All main dining halls at both events were observed as 100% compliant to countermeasures on more occasions compared with Tokyo's venues and satellite villages. However, Beijing's three main dining halls, showed a greater compliance compared with Tokyo's main dining hall, likely due to overcrowding in Tokyo. Comments suggested that smaller dining spaces, with overcrowding, may have contributed to reduced compliance to physical distancing measures. Food safety concerns were raised about gastrointestinal distress in Beijing due to food cross-contamination. Findings suggest that the food service environment may influence caterers' abilities to comply with foodservice safety and infection control guidelines. In the post-pandemic era, enhanced quality control and standardised risk mitigation strategies are needed to improve athletes' health at international sporting events.

INTERNATIONAL SPORT COACHING JOURNAL

INTERNATIONAL SPORT COACHING JOURNAL

Paris air quality monitoring for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics: focus on air pollutants and pollen

BackgroundExposure to air pollution can affect the health of individuals with respiratory disease, but may also impede the health and performance of athletes. This is potentially relevant for people travelling...

Protein intake by master swimmers: Implications for practice in Sports Nutrition-A cross-sectional study.

Background: Proteins are essential for the maintenance, repair, and growth of muscle mass. This is particularly important for master athletes because aging has been associated with loss of muscle mass, function, and strength. Moreover, the timing of intake has been shown important for the best protein utilization. Aim: To analyze timing, quantity, and source of dietary protein in competitive master athletes according to current recommendations. Methods: Twenty-one male master swimmers (47.9 ± 10.0 years; 79.2 ± 6.5 kg; 179.1 ± 5.5 cm; 23.5 ± 4.9% body fat; 73.3 ± 4.2% lean mass) participated in this cross-sectional study. Protein intake was analyzed based on 7-day food records, regarding quantity, timing, and sources of intake. Protein intake was evaluated according to current international sports nutrition guidelines, including the International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand. Body fat (%) and lean mass (%) were evaluated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Results: Participants' mean protein intakes were 1.9 ± 0.5 g/kg/day, 0.6 ± 0.2 g/kg/meal post-training, and 33.5 ± 23.9 g during the pre-sleep period. Daily intake was within the recommended values of 1.4 and 2.0 g/kg/day (p = 0.01 and 0.147, respectively). Mean pre-sleep intake was within the recommendation values of 30-40 g (p = 0.28 and 0.147, respectively). Most of the daily protein intake was consumed at lunch (66.7 ± 6.9 g) and dinner (48.0 ± 4.5 g). Regarding protein sources, intakes from animal, vegetal, and supplements were, respectively, 65.7%, 29.2%, and 5.1%. Conclusion: Master swimmers presented a total protein intake within the recommendations for a daily basis, but the majority of intake was at lunch and dinner. Protein intake could be better distributed throughout the day to optimize protein synthesis. Guidance on daily protein intake distribution should be reinforced in clinical practice.

Does hosting FIFA World Cup attract inward FDI? An empirical investigation using sectoral panel data of 12 countries

PurposeThe primary objective is to analyze the direct and short-run impact of hosting the FIFA World Cup on inward FDI, considering both aggregate and sectoral levels. Additionally, the study aims to investigate the moderating role of governance quality on this impact, emphasizing the importance of robust institutional frameworks in attracting FDI.Design/methodology/approachThis paper uses panel data spanning 1970–2022, encompassing 12 countries that have hosted FIFA World Cup events. The study employs a linear regression model with a robust weighted least squares (RWLS) estimation method. It incorporates various control variables and the institutional quality as moderating variables, to evaluate the impact of hosting the FIFA World Cup on inward FDI at both aggregate and sectoral levels.FindingsHosting the FIFA World Cup is associated with a significant average increase of $4.33 bn in inward FDI at the aggregate level. Notably, governance quality serves as a critical moderating factor, with well-governed countries experiencing a more substantial increase in FDI, totaling $10.5 bn. At the sectoral level, the results reveal that poorly governed countries attract FDI in primary sectors, while well-governed countries attract FDI in secondary and tertiary sectors. This highlights the nuanced dynamics of FDI attraction depending on the institutional quality of the host countries.Research limitations/implicationsA primary limitation lies in the scarcity of sectoral-level data, constraining the comprehensive study of the relationship between hosting mega-sport events and FDI. Future research could explore alternative data sources and methodologies to overcome this limitation. Additionally, extending the analysis to include other economic indicators beyond FDI could provide a more holistic understanding of the economic implications of hosting major international sporting events.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature by focusing exclusively on the FIFA World Cup and undertaking a comprehensive sectoral analysis. By incorporating governance quality as a moderating variable, it adds a nuanced layer to the understanding of the impact of hosting international events on FDI at the sectoral level. The findings underscore the importance of targeted strategies and robust institutional quality in enhancing FDI attractiveness.

A stochastic-demographic model to explain success and dominance in international sports

We model a stochastic, demographic-based framework to examine how an empirically proven, so-called first mover advantage affects the long-term sporting success of states by considering, among other things, demographic developments and the accumulation of sport-related human capital. In order to clarify and formalize this advantage in a sports economics framework, we draw on the concept of the stochastic dominance. Since our model is dynamic, it allows us to show how the probability of success of a nation evolves and under which conditions the stochastic dominance reduces.

Translation, Cross-Cultural Adaptation, and Validation of the Croatian Version of the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ).

The aim of this study is to translate, cross-culturally adapt, and validate the Croatian Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ-Cro) as part of the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool 1 (SMHAT-1) validation. We assessed the reliability and applicability of the APSQ-Cro among Croatian athletes. The international sports community is increasingly focused on mental health issues in athletes, highlighting the need for early detection tools like the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ) and SMHAT-1. We included 869 Croatian competing athletes across 54 sports who received a link to access the WEB-based questionnaire. The Croatian Olympic Board helped in distributing the questionnaires, aiming to reach as many and as diverse a group of registered competing athletes in Croatia as possible. Results showed a Cronbach's alpha of 0.75 for the entire questionnaire, indicating acceptable reliability. An exploratory strategy of factor analysis was used to determine the underlying structure of the APSQ-Cro. For this purpose, the Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) test and Bartlett's test for sphericity were performed to ensure the suitability of the data. The KMO test ensured sampling adequacy, with a measure of 0.77 indicating suitability for factor analysis, while Bartlett's test confirmed significant correlations among variables (χ2 = 2779.155, df = 45, p < 0.001), validating the dataset's appropriateness for data reduction techniques. The factor analysis, together with the Cattell scree test and varimax rotation, resulted in a two-factor structure for the APSQ-Cro. Factor 1 included items related to internal psychological struggles, while Factor 2 included items related to external pressures from the athletic environment. These two factors explained 53% of the variability, with Cronbach's alphas of 0.75 and 0.88 for the respective factors. The APSQ-Cro is a valid and reliable tool for assessing distress in Croatian athletes. Croatian athletes' sporting experience will be improved with the broad adoption of the APSQ-Cro, which can help detect early signs of psychological distress and subsequently improve mental health outcomes.