From stabilizer to strategist: The evolving role of China’s “National Team” and its impact on corporate environmental disclosure

Evaluation of an innovative model for leadership and management development among national immunization program teams.

This study assessed medically relevant symptoms of sleep disorders in elite athletes across all sport types in a large-scale Swiss sample. In late fall 2023, a total of 2293 out of 5188 members of a national squad at junior or elite level participated in an anonymous online survey (Mage = 22.05 years; SD = 7.5, 46.4% female, 53.6% male), stemming from up to 100 different sports, including alpine skiing, athletics, football, and tennis. A total of 25.8% of athletes exhibited symptoms suggestive of sleep disorders requiring clinical evaluation. The most commonly reported conditions were insomnia (7.5%), sleep apnea (3.4%), restless legs syndrome (6.6%), nightmares (6.3%), and non-REM parasomnias, including sleepwalking and night terrors (8.7%). Furthermore, 18.3% of athletes perceived their sleep as non-restorative, and 20.1% showed poor sleep efficiency. Regular use of sleep medication was reported by 3.1% of athletes. Overall, 17.7% of athletes demonstrated poor sleep health, failing in at least two of the six assessed domains. It appears that one in four elite athletes suffers from medically relevant sleep disorders that may impair performance and increase the risk of mental health problems, particularly depression and anxiety disorders. Routine screening and treatment of the causes of sleep disorders might effectively improve performance among athletes.

The tragic death of Marc-Vivien Foé in 2003 triggered increased efforts to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD) in football around the world. Our objective was to determine the current cardiovascular (CV) screening strategies and extent of emergency response planning in football clubs across the country of Cameroon. In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed the technical and medical staff of football clubs in the Cameroon domestic professional and amateur leagues and national teams from 1 June to 30 August 2024. Questionnaires were completed in person and focused on CV screening practices and emergency preparedness for sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), including access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs). In total, 211 participants representing 54 different football clubs and six national teams completed the questionnaire. Out of the reported cardiac events, 74.9% resulted in death, 55.2% occurred during a match, 23.2% during training and 1.9% at home. Three-quarters (76.1%) of participants reported they conduct CV screening only during the precompetition medical assessment; however, only 45.5% provide screening, which includes an ECG. Moreover, only 37% of participants were trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and 22.7% in AED use. An AED was rarely available during matches (9.0%) or training (7.6%). In fact, no responding club from the domestic or professional leagues in Cameroon reported having an AED; only the national teams reported AED availability. Urgent interventions are needed to improve the prevention of SCD across Cameroon football. Better CV screening strategies that include ECGs, implementing CPR training and facilitating access to AEDs are priorities.

This study examines the characteristics of feinting plays performed by women's national handball teams from Asia and Europe, emphasizing the contrasting approaches and tactical tendencies between regions. It identifies key factors that provide an advantage in one-on-one situations. The sample comprised feinting plays observed in one-on-one situations from three matches per focal team in each of the 2019 World Championship, 2021 Olympic Games, and 2021 World Championship. After systematically observing and analyzing match footage, descriptive performance analysis was conducted using chi-square tests and residual analyses. The findings revealed distinct regional patterns: (i) European teams most frequently executed feinting plays with slow approaches, moderate distances, frontal positions, and two-leg stops, highlighting their methodical and structural style; (ii) Asian teams most frequently employed rapid approaches, greater distances, dominant arm side positions, and 0-1 stops, reflecting a dynamic and speed-oriented approach; and (iii) for both European and Asian teams, feinting plays at greater distances were more effective. These results elucidate the specific characteristics of feinting plays across regions, generating insights that should guide feinting coaching strategies tailored to the regional strengths and styles.

Equitable delivery of high-quality care is challenging in mesothelioma. Previous UK audits report variable practice and outcomes. The Scottish Mesothelioma Network was launched in April 2019, funding lead clinicians and clinical nurse specialists, a weekly national multidisciplinary team meeting and service improvement driven by quality performance indicators. We report outcomes from an embedded impact assessment. A multicentre ambispective cohort study was performed, including all cases diagnosed from April 2017 to April 2022. Baseline data, treatment and survival outcomes were collected prospectively in all network cases (April 2019 to April 2022) and West of Scotland (WoS) pre-network cases (April 2017 to March 2019). Data were retrieved retrospectively for pre-network non-WoS cases via cancer networks, supplemented by Public Health Scotland registry data. Overall survival (OS) was compared between pre-network and network cohorts using restricted mean survival time (RMST). RMST differences were integrated with baseline features and treatment utilisation, including ipilimumab-nivolumab and surgery. Treatment effects were modelled by propensity score matching. 659 consecutive patients were included (pre-network n=273; network n=386). Cohort demographics were well-balanced. In the network era, data quality improved and diagnostic pathways were not delayed. Adjusted RMST was 4.13 months longer in non-epithelioid network cases (p<0.001), but did not differ in epithelioid cases. Ipilimumab-nivolumab was used more commonly in network cases (47/279 (16.8%) vs 4/154 (2.6%) performance status (PS) 0-1 pre-network), but similar RMST extension was observed in untreated patients (+4.45 months, p=0.01). RMST differences were associated with improved PS at diagnosis, but not with stage, ipilimumab-nivolumab or surgery (in 17/659 (2.6%)). Establishment of a national mesothelioma network was associated with improved OS in non-epithelioid patients. Causal inferences cannot be drawn using the methods used, but these data support wider development of specialist mesothelioma networks.

Accurate assessment of joint range of motion (ROM) is essential in both clinical and athletic contexts for monitoring mobility, guiding rehabilitation, and optimizing performance. Traditional tools such as goniometers are widely used but limited by operator dependency and static measurement constraints. Depth-sensing technologies offer a markerless alternative that may enhance practicality in field-based settings. This study examined the validity and reliability of the Microsoft Azure Kinect system compared with a digital goniometer for assessing hip and knee ROM in 30 elite female weightlifters from the Turkish National Team. Participants performed hip abduction, adduction, flexion, extension, and knee flexion, each measured using both tools. Agreement between systems was assessed using Pearson's correlations, intraclass correlation coefficients [ICC (3,1)], and Bland-Altman analyses. No significant differences were found between methods (p > 0.05), with strong correlations (r = 0.974-0.997) and high intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC = 0.994-0.998), indicating excellent consistency. Bland-Altman analyses showed minimal bias and narrow limits of agreement. These findings support the Azure Kinect as a valid and reliable tool for lower-extremity ROM assessment and a viable alternative to traditional goniometers in field applications.

This study aims to analyze the effect of product quality and price on purchasing decisions of Erspo Indonesian National Football Team jerseys in Surabaya. The background is rooted in the rising enthusiasm of Indonesian football fans and the emergence of Erspo as an official national team apparel brand, which faced opportunities as well as criticism concerning product quality and pricing. The research employed a quantitative approach using purposive sampling with 108 respondents. Data collection was conducted through questionnaires using a Likert scale, and data analysis utilized the Partial Least Square (PLS) method. The findings indicate that both product quality and price have a positive and significant effect on purchasing decisions. This study contributes to the literature on consumer behavior in the sports apparel market and provides practical insights for local brands to strengthen their competitivene

Unlike the NBA or EuroLeague, the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) limits foreign player registration and playing time. This study quantified how these constraints shape positional performance profiles, identifying the key metrics that distinguish domestic from foreign players across positions. Data from 10,423 player-game observations during the 2023–2024 CBA season were analyzed. Performance was evaluated using multidimensional metrics, including box-score, minute-based, contribution-based, and efficiency-based indicators. Multi-level generalized linear models (Poisson/Negative Binomial) and Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA) were employed to quantify performance disparities and classification accuracy. Foreign players exhibited significantly higher rate ratios (RR) in nearly all scoring and rebounding categories (all p &lt; 0.005). LDA models achieved exceptional classification accuracy (0.73–0.98), with Efficiency-based (EBM) and Minute-based (MBM) metrics demonstrating superior discriminatory capacity. While scoring volume and usage rate were primary discriminators, distinct positional profiles emerged: foreign guards and forwards were characterized by high-risk playmaking (AST%, TOV_min), multi-level scoring (FTM_min, 2PMs_min), and significant defensive rebounding (DRB_min, DefReb%), while centers were exclusively defined by defensive rebounding dominance. Notably, no significant differences were found in 3-point variables for front players (p &gt; 0.05), reflecting a persistent “traditional” tactical role for big men in the CBA that contrasts with the “space-and-pace” evolution in modern basketball. The performance gap in the CBA is systematically tied to the “high-usage” roles assigned to foreign players. Coaches and managers should prioritize versatile “impact makers” with high efficiency and ball security during recruitment. Furthermore, the findings highlight a critical need for targeted training interventions to enhance the interior finishing, rebounding, playmaking, and tactical versatility of domestic players. Bridging these positional skill gaps is essential to reduce over-reliance on foreign individuals and to align the CBA with the evolution of modern international basketball. These findings may also inform evidence-based player selection for the Chinese national team.

This study aims to compare the quality of experienced players based on the number of caps, player age, minutes played during the tournament, the ratio of goal contributions in quarterfinal to final matches, and total goals throughout their international careers. The research employed a descriptive-comparative design involving eight national teams participating in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and eight clubs competing in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, selected using purposive sampling techniques. Data were collected through documentation from official football databases, including FIFA, Transfermarkt, and match reports, using observation sheets and comparison matrices as research instruments. Data were analyzed descriptively to identify patterns and differences between groups. The results indicate that players in the 2022 FIFA World Cup had a higher number of caps, greater goal contributions, and longer playing time. In contrast, players in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup exhibited more varied levels of experience, a younger average age, and fewer minutes played due to player rotation. It is concluded that national team tournaments tend to emphasize the role of experienced players with significant influence on team performance, whereas club tournaments prioritize squad depth, player rotation, and performance consistency.

Volleyball plays a crucial role in maintaining physical and mental health while contributing to the overall quality of life. Internationally, volleyball is governed by the Fédération Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB), and nationally by the Indonesian Volleyball Federation (PBVSI). The FIVB Women’s U-21 Volleyball World Championship 2025, held in Surabaya from August 7 to 17, involved 24 countries and served as a platform for young athletes to demonstrate their abilities, strengthen athlete development pathways, and determine global rankings. This study aims to analyze the overall performance of the Indonesian Women’s U-21 National Volleyball Team throughout the tournament, from the preliminary round to the play-off phase, by identifying playing patterns, factors contributing to wins and losses, and Indonesia’s global position when competing against strong teams such as Italy and China. The research employed a descriptive quantitative analytical approach using document analysis. Data were collected from match results, point statistics, and final rankings. The findings indicate that Indonesia, competing in Pool A, finished 16th in the world ranking, 5th in Asia, and 2nd in Southeast Asia, achieving two wins and seven losses. Italy emerged as the world champion, while Japan secured the runner-up position. The discussion highlights that mental resilience, technical mastery, and tactical execution are key determinants of competitive performance at the international level. Therefore, sustained high-quality training programs and multidimensional support, along with strong collaboration among stakeholders, are essential to enhance the future performance of the Indonesian national team, in line with FIVB’s vision of “Volleyball for All.”

Supporting a sports team is a regular occurrence. We find an association with a team we have some connection with. Whether it is a team from our hometown or somewhere we have lived, there is a connection that drives us to wave the flag or wear their colours. But why do large numbers of South Africans support New Zealand rugby, often over their own national team, the Springboks? Drawing on two small online surveys of rugby supporters (n = 66) conducted across three Facebook rugby union groups, this article examines South African support for the All Blacks and New Zealand rugby. Combining social identity theory with accounts of basking in reflected glory (BIRG), consumer culture, and postcolonial sport, the study finds that political opposition to apartheid instigated identification with New Zealand, but that loyalty now is primarily driven by style of play; family socialisation; the tradition of success; team culture; and characteristics such as humility, mana, and ritual (e.g., the haka). While New Zealanders mostly welcome the support, there is also acknowledgement of what is sometimes perceived as ‘over-the-top’ behaviour. This article discusses claims about New Zealand’s complicity with apartheid, the racial composition of New Zealand rugby, and the politics of memory, arguing that present-day fandom cannot be reduced to a simple historical grievance. The article contributes to scholarship on transnational spectatorship, national identity, and the political afterlives of rugby in the Southern Hemisphere and closes with implications for unions, media, and supporter governance.

Abstract Research has shown that when ‘xxx English’ is used in reference to an English variety, the attribute ‘xxx’ is more likely to be an adjective than a noun. This is true of traditional ENL and ESL varieties, whose speakers can legitimately claim that ‘English is our language’. EFL varieties tend to follow the same trend, with ‘China English’ being a glaring exception to date. Corpus analysis shows that the pre-head attribute of a noun phrase may be filled by a noun (e.g., Belgium, Canada) or an adjective derived from it (e.g., Belgian, Canadian). A pre-head nominal attribute expresses the meaning ‘a type of’ (e.g., ‘communication skill’, ‘generation gap’), while a pre-head adjective signals either a quality (e.g., ‘smart city’ – with quality of being smart) or membership of a class (e.g., ‘smart card’, distinct from other cards). A pre-head nominal attribute and its adjectival counterpart signaling ‘class membership’ thus share a classificatory function. This helps explain stylistic variation such as free alternation between ‘Scottish flag’ and ‘Scotland flag’ in the same text; nor is there anything unusual using names of countries in sports reporting (e.g., ‘Brazil national football team’). But such a stylistic shift is semantically nuanced and not always licensed (consider, e.g., ‘Ukrainian security’ and ‘Ukraine war’, where the pre-head attributes ‘Ukrainian’ and ‘Ukraine’ are not interchangeable). The adjectival form of a toponym is usually longer in speech and writing than the toponym itself. Apparently, phonology matters when naming an English variety, witness the rarity of ‘Guamanian English’ and ‘Peruvian English’.

ABSTRACT Hungaro-Romanian diplomatic relations have long been shaped by rivalry and interethnic conflict, influencing political and cultural interactions between the two nations. These tensions extend into sport diplomacy, where recurring controversies, particularly in ice hockey, have reinforced divisions rather than fostering dialogue. Media coverage in both countries plays a central role in constructing narratives of victimhood, shaping the image of the ‘other’, and amplifying interethnic tensions. This paper examines the media representation of Hungaro-Romanian sport relations through the lens of ice hockey between 2021 and 2023. It identifies recurring themes, ethnic biases, and dominant narratives that shape public perception and international relations. The central research question explores how media representations function as discursive arenas for negotiating national identity, interethnic tensions and sport diplomacy. The study employs a mixed-method approach combining qualitative content analysis and critical discourse analysis. It analyzes leading Romanian and Hungarian news outlets alongside the official Facebook pages of the respective ice hockey federations, focusing on key matches involving the national teams. The findings show that media representations reinforce historical and ethnic narratives, shaping public opinion and contributing to divergent national perspectives.

ABSTRACT The Olympic Games are widely recognised as a major emotional challenge for athletes and support staff. For the Israeli delegation, the Paris 2024 Games brought an additional layer of psychological complexity. Amid the backdrop of the ongoing Middle East conflict, which intensified following the October 7 tragic events, Israeli athletes encountered several nationality-based challenging events throughout the Olympic year, including verbal hostility, protests, and symbolic gestures. While such events were expected to be limited during the Paris Games, sport psychology practitioners working with the national teams chose to develop a focused intervention to help the delegation remain performance oriented. The rationale was to address these potential challenges thoughtfully, without overemphasising their significance. The intervention was grounded in an OSP and CBS, aiming to equip athletes and staff with tools to manage external pressures while embodying the Olympic spirit in the face of adversity. This paper outlines the theoretical foundations, practical implementation, and post-Games reflections that were collected from both the practitioners and the intervention leaders, who were also members of the delegation team.

ABSTRACT This study reports on the prevalence of racist attitudes in Germany, comparing a conventional survey question with a list experiment (LE). In a nationally representative survey, respondents were asked whether they oppose the nomination of athletes of color for German national teams. Given that opposition to athletes of color indicates a racist attitude, the questions arise whether social desirability could bias responses in a conventional survey question and whether this is less the case in an LE format. The two methods yield very different prevalence rates: 12.5% of Germans ( = one in eight respondents) expressed a racist attitude in the covert LE format, but only 1.4% ( = one in 71 respondents) in the conventional format. This is a strong indication that social desirability leads to massive underreporting of racist attitudes in surveys. Issues of race and ethnicity in national representation in elite sports are apparently more controversial and politicized than they appear at first glance.

This study compared the effects of complex training (CT) versus resistance training (RT) on agility, strength and power in elite modern pentathletes during precompetition periods. Ten male modern pentathletes from the Chinese national team participated. They first completed the RT mesocycles (eight weeks), followed by the CT mesocycles (eight weeks), with detraining microcycle (two weeks) in between for rest. Agility (three-cone test, TCT), strength (one-repetition maximum back squat, 1RM-BS; isometric mid-thigh pull peak force, IMTP), and power (counter-movement jump, CMJ; reaction strength index, RSI) performance were assessed at four time points: before RT (T0), at the end of RT (T1), before CT (T2) and at the end of CT (T3). The results revealed that the TCT improved significantly from T2 to T3 (p = 0.006), with a significant difference between T3 and T1 (p = 0.002), but no significant improvement was observed from T0 to T1 (p = 0.383). The 1RM-BS and IMTP improved significantly from T0 to T1 (p<0.001, p = 0.006), from T2 to T3 (all p <0.001), and T3 was significantly improved compared to T1 (all p <0.001). CMJ and RSI also showed significant improvements from T0 to T1 (p = 0.002, p = 0.015), from T2 to T3 (p<0.001, p = 0.015), and T3 was significantly better than T1 (p = 0.001, p = 0.037). These findings indicate that greater improvements in agility, strength, and power were observed during the CT mesocycle compared with the RT mesocycle in elite modern pentathletes during the precompetition period.

ABSTRACT The 2026 World Cup Qualification represents a crucial milestone for Indonesian supporters, as they have never progressed this far before. This achievement boosts national pride across the country and is captivating to observe. However, supporters are known for displaying behaviours leaning towards hyper-nationalism, intolerance, and cyberbullying. By analysing these behaviours, we explore how supporter identity is formed and how the national image shapes Indonesian football culture. We adopted a Geertzian ethnographic approach, employing participant observation, in-depth interviews, and photo elicitation with 20 informants. Our findings identify three layers of supporters: local, national team, and modern fandom. Stadiums hold symbolic significance and function as ritual spaces on matchdays. Expressions of national loyalty, through chants, choreography, and jerseys, serve as a form of identity. Furthermore, supporters’ roles extend beyond mere spectators, actively fostering a more inclusive supporter culture. Ultimately, national identity constructs a moral narrative and emotional connection within Indonesian football culture.

Beyond Elite Performance: Lessons on Health and Identity from Pablo Aimar: Insights from the Former Elite Soccer Player and Current World Cup-Winning Assistant Coach of the Argentine National Team.

Objectives: Agonist-antagonist coordination is traditionally defined as simultaneous neural activation assessed by electromyography (EMG). The present study adopts a mechanical perspective, examining twitch-derived contractile ratio indexes between antagonistic muscle groups using tensiomyography (TMG). The aim was to determine whether sport expertise differentiates mechanical agonist-antagonist coordination in karate athletes. Methods: Fifty male participants were divided into four groups: elite karate athletes (EK; n = 7), national team members (NK; n = 14), basically trained karate practitioners (BK; n = 16), and physically active non-athlete controls (CG; n = 13). Bilateral TMG assessment of rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, biceps femoris, and semitendinosus was performed. Contraction time (Tc), total contraction time (TcT), and rate of muscle tension development (RMTD) were extracted. Twelve twitch-derived contractile ratio indexes (CRI) were calculated separately for dominant (D) and non-dominant (ND) limbs. Results: Significant between-group differences were observed in the temporal coordination of the non-dominant leg. EK demonstrated the lowest index for average contraction time (CRI_Tc_AVG_ND = 17.13%; ANOVA p = 0.005; EK vs. NK p = 0.003) and total contraction time (CRI_TcT_AVG_ND = 9.72%; ANOVA p = 0.003; EK vs. NK p = 0.002). In contrast, velocity-related coordination in the dominant leg was highest in EK (CRI_RMTD_cV_D = 63.66%; ANOVA p = 0.002), differing from NK (p = 0.003), BK (p = 0.002), and CG (p = 0.009). Conclusions: Elite karate athletes exhibit distinct twitch-derived mechanical coordination profiles characterized by highly efficient temporal interplay in the non-dominant (supportive) limb and elevated velocity-related contractile ratio in the dominant (executive) limb. These findings suggest that sport expertise is associated with task-specific mechanical modulation between antagonistic muscle groups detectable through involuntary contractile responses.