In Australia's surfing culture, significant barriers have long impeded women's full participation and advancement in the sport. Surfing has been a male-dominated sport, with women surfers often feeling unwelcome in both competitive and recreational spaces. Through a qualitative approach involving semistructured interviews with 20 competitive Australian women surfers, our research reveals that despite recent progressive reforms, women still face systemic obstacles. Applying Bourdieu's Theory of Practice, this study examines how the structure and culture of surfing in Australia contribute to women's participation and advancement in the field. It explores the extent to which access to different forms of capital is constrained and how women's dispositions are shaped and reinforced through formal and informal settings, norms, and practices, ultimately influencing participation and sustaining persistent systemic barriers. The research uncovers the barriers in three key areas of women's surfing: structural barriers in organized surfing, including competition structures, lack of funding streams for women's development programs, and unequal sponsorship distribution; cultural barriers in informal surfing, including lack of codes of conduct in local surf spots, mentorship programs and gender-inclusive teaching methods in surf instruction; and insufficient leadership development to create pathways for women across surfing organizations, competition judging, coaching roles, and industry administration.

Despite sport’s perceived ubiquity, little is known empirically about the prevalence of fandom as a cultural practice. This study addresses this gap through latent class analysis of attitudinal sport preferences, adopting Australia as a distinctive upper-bound case to test sport fandom’s universality. The 12-segment model upon 27,412 respondents estimates 23% of the population as apathetic toward sport, of whom women (68%) are over-represented, consistent with leisure-constraints research. Contrary to cultural archetypes, only 5% of the population are classified as sport fanatics. Fanatics exhibited broad repertoires of sports interest, rather than specialized focus. Findings extend scholarship by mapping the full distribution of sport interest utilizing a large-scale sample, showing that casual and selectively engaged segments are widespread and theoretically significant. The study positions the prevalence of casual fandom as a key lens for future research on participation and consumption.

In elite international sport governance, various actors engage in deliberative practices to address athletes’ concerns and interests in different democratic spaces (i.e., empowered, public, and transparent) to inform decision-making. This study examined the democratic spaces occupied by global elite athlete representatives, both independent of the Olympic Movement (OM) and within it. The findings showed OM athletes occupied the empowered space to make collective decisions. Both OM athlete and independent athlete representatives used the public and transmission spaces to help shape opinions and influence OM policy making. In practice, OM decision making was influenced by independent athlete representatives publicly criticizing OM practices, expressing different athletes’ perspectives, and using national legal systems.

This article explores spectator racism across three high-profile professional men's football codes in Australia (Australian Football League, National Rugby League and the A-League). To pursue this goal, the study conducted an online survey from April 2021 to June 2021, securing 2047 responses. Our focus in this article centres on those participants who self-identified as White to gather their insights on racism as they witnessed and understood it being expressed in the context of attending a professional men's football code match in Australia. Applying Pierre Bourdieu's concept of habitus to theorise why some White spectators overtly express racist language and behaviour, our findings indicated the resilience of Whiteness as a source of power and domination, with many White participants reporting they had witnessed racial bigotry in recent years. Concurrently, many demonstrated anti-racist sensibilities, expressing frustration that change has been limited, if at all. Some participants suggested racism is an individual failing rather than being subject to institutions and community norms. From that perspective, racism is viewed as a personal choice rather than a failure of society.

This chapter examines athlete activism and its expression through national anthem protests in sport. Focusing on three key environments – the United States, Australia, and Northern Ireland – we trace the evolution of anthemic protests and explore their bases and effectiveness as forms of athlete activism. The death of George Floyd in the US sparked global condemnation and propelled the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, which had originated in response to police violence against black communities in 2013, to new heights. Professional sporting events became platforms for widespread support of the movement, with players, club staff, officials, and media organisations engaging in coordinated displays of solidarity, such as taking a knee or raising fists. Some of these protests occurred during the playing of national anthems, leading to sharp criticism in certain circles. The chapter delves into the significance of national symbols and patriotic rituals in sports, particularly in the highly charged political climate following the September 11 attacks. The hyper-patriotic stance adopted by sports in the US raises concerns about the potential conflation of patriotic sensibilities with blind loyalty, stifling dissent, and critical engagement with national symbols.

In Australia, a substantial proportion of men’s National Rugby League (NRL) players are of Pasifika (Pacific Islander and Māori) origin; however, this cultural group is a more modest proportion of the NRL’s non-athlete workforce. Using psychological contract (PC), we explored workplace expectations of non-athlete Pasifika employees and their employers in the NRL, either within the league or clubs. In terms of methodology, a ‘talanoa’ approach to interpersonal dialogue provided the framework for culturally relevant conversations, stories and ideas exchange with 30 individuals, including 20 Pasifika NRL employees and 10 non-Pasifika employers. Additionally, 21 sessions of fieldwork, including participant observations at Pasifika rugby league events were also used to collect data. Results indicate Pasifika knowledge and contribution are important in the NRL workplace. It is clear there is a positive shift to a ‘balanced’ psychological contract based on increased visibility and intercultural sharing of experiences and knowledge systems by Pasifika employees. However, non-Pasifika employers are still grappling to understand Pasifika socio-cultural sensibilities and to translate that, as appropriate, into management approaches. Diversity management is a tentative work in progress, with little knowledge about how management practices might optimize the skills and expectations of Pasifika employees with a view to better understanding and managing PC in professional sport.

This chapter discusses the use of sport sanctions against Russia as a result of the invasion of Ukraine. It documents the International Olympic Committee’s swift and strategic response to the invasion, motivated by the violation of the Olympic Truce, protective actions against the negative impact on competition integrity, and the prospect of Russian and Ukrainian athletes competing against each other. The position of Russian athletes on the sanctions and Russia’s invasion is discussed, as part of debating the responsibility and role of Russian athletes in the war. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the Olympic Movement’s belief in the autonomy of sport, and Thomas Bach’s concern about the influence of nation states over Olympic bodies.

Abstract The social identity markers of “race” and ethnicity are critical elements of societies past and present; thus, they have shaped the way that sport accommodates (or otherwise) people of diverse backgrounds in respect of skin color and ancestry. The journey to greater ethnoracial inclusivity in sport has been fraught with enormous challenges, and although contemporary physical culture is hardly removed from bigotry and racial vilification, there have been significant and welcome changes. This chapter begins by providing insights into the concepts of “race” and ethnicity in society, which then allows for the exploration of sport as a vehicle for negotiating norms of participation, feelings of belonging, and initiatives to deter xenophobia. The prime focus is research developments pertaining to sport in the West and societies riven by settler colonialism.

Research question: Research into new sport teams has maintained a narrow focus on season ticket holders. This is redressed in this study by determining whether immediate preferences towards new local teams can be observed in the broader viewing behaviour of the general population within local markets. The consumption of new sport teams is then tracked longitudinally to understand the influence of consumer novelty on market behaviour. Research methods: The study analysed television ratings data of a new Australian cricket league. The period of analysis spanned five seasons from 2013/2014 through to 2017/2018. Data analysis included independent samples t-tests and hierarchical linear modelling. Results and findings: Each local market exhibited an immediate preference for their local team. Local viewing preference for local teams did not grow over time, with the relative audience of local and non-local team fixtures increasing proportionally over the period. The league appears to be towards the end of its novelty phase, evidenced by a stabilisation in viewing commitment yet retraction in base audience size between season three and five. Implications: The ability of new teams to solicit immediate local viewing preferences within the general population confirms the salience of geography as a foundational component of team identity. New teams should strategically consider their alignment to a suburban, city, state, or regional identity. That preference towards local teams did not increase within local markets reflects a critical theoretic distinction from more identified fan segments in which connection to team is thought to typically grow over time.

This article explores the implications of widely publicized national anthem protests by several Indigenous rugby league players in Australia during 2019. With a goal of doing justice to these Indigenous voices (and in this case also their silence), a critical race theory framework was deployed to both listen to and interpret the reasons behind the protests. The data source was online media reports that centered on the perspectives of players and rugby league officials, along with responses to the protests by prominent journalists and politicians via online opinion pieces. The findings indicate that the voices of Indigenous athletes in Australia are important in raising concerns about nationalist rituals and symbols that, by their colonialist nature, subjugate Aboriginal peoples. Importantly, the Indigenous rugby league players were not alone in their campaign. The Recognition in Anthem Project, which began in 2017, indicates that the perspectives of these protesting rugby players were part of a wider discussion about change. The movement for a new national anthem, therefore, was not just isolated to sport, and this appears to have provided the Indigenous rugby players—as social commentators—with atypical influence.

• Structural and relational considerations are critical for sponsorship management• Brand and strategic compatibility are valued by the sponsee• Trustworthy relationships are instrumental in managing sponsors• Staff turnover impacts asset-specific knowledge and inter-firm social bonds Structural and relational considerations are critical for sponsorship management Brand and strategic compatibility are valued by the sponsee Trustworthy relationships are instrumental in managing sponsors Staff turnover impacts asset-specific knowledge and inter-firm social bonds Sponsorship plays a critical role in the delivery of major sport events. To date, the majority of sponsorship research has focused on the sponsors’ perspective or consumer responses. Drawing upon brand alliance literature and relationship marketing theory, this paper discusses learnings from the management of sponsor-sponsee relationships at a major sport event. We provide insights from the sponsee (i.e., the event) perspective: this is intended to further our understanding of relationship management in the context of event sponsorship, as well as providing practical information for both event industry and sport industry practitioners. This case study produced three main findings in terms of relational effectiveness: clear and compatible strategy, development of positive inter-organisational culture and inter-personal relationships, and stability. Each of these attributes are key to successful and effective sponsorship management.

There are no reliable statistics about female participation in Fijian sport, yet it is well known by locals (though not widely understood) that engagement in sportive activities is rare among Indo-Fijian girls and women. This paper is the first attempt to explore how and why that is so. That said, there is an important caveat: we are not insisting that sportive activities are an inherent good. Indeed, for some cultural groups, Western-invented competitive sport may be of no interest; similarly, tangential forms of human movement, such as recreational pursuits like cycling or gym sessions, may be just as uninspiring. In that sense, the main thrust of our inquiry is the sportive experiences of Indo-Fijian female athletes, yet we have also sought feedback from those charged with the responsibility of managing sportive programmes. These combined perspectives are intended to provide a preliminary entree into the much larger – hitherto unexplored – question of what attitudes, opportunities and constraints are associated with sportive activities for Indo-Fijian girls and women. The paper adopts a critical race feminism framework: the goal was to accentuate females of colour (in this case Indo-Fijian women) by hearing their voices and, with their permission, reporting what they had to say. The paper nonetheless provides an adaptation to critical race feminism theory: it also engaged with individuals – whether women or men – charged with the responsibility of managing sportive activities. In that sense, we were interested in individual agency and experience on the part of athletic Indo-Fijian women, but also wanted to understand how (or if) local sport administrators understood ethnic diversity among female athletes, including – in our case – the involvement (or otherwise) of Indo-Fijian females.

• This study constructs the intergroup relations continuum as a conceptual model and tool for use in mapping the status quo of intergroup relations.• Combined qualitative methods were used to investigate the role of sport in intergroup relations across the ethnically divided nation of Fiji.• In Fiji the framing of sport was found to be instrumental in affecting intergroup relations both positively and negatively.• The results of this investigation are discussed and depicted with the use of the intergroup relations continuum to display its efficacy. This study constructs the intergroup relations continuum as a conceptual model and tool for use in mapping the status quo of intergroup relations. Combined qualitative methods were used to investigate the role of sport in intergroup relations across the ethnically divided nation of Fiji. In Fiji the framing of sport was found to be instrumental in affecting intergroup relations both positively and negatively. The results of this investigation are discussed and depicted with the use of the intergroup relations continuum to display its efficacy. A significant body of knowledge exists around the role of intergroup relations in sport for development and peace (SFDP). However, while numerous SFDP researchers have investigated overt conflict, scholars have typically overlooked the varied nature of intergroup relations in comparatively stable SFDP environments. In addressing that issue, the authors explore intergroup relations in the context of Fiji, a country which in recent years has moved from a society characterized by the politics of coup d'état to democratic government and relatively peaceful social relations. That said, Fiji has long been shaped by a fundamental cultural divide between Indigenous Fijians (iTaukei) and Fijians of Indian ancestry (Indo-Fijians): this is reflected in the de facto separatism between these groups in relation to their role in rugby union and Association football (soccer). The authors present a qualitative framework—the Intergroup Relations Continuum (IRC)—by which to map intergroup relations as they apply in Fiji according to identity, ethnicity and sport. While the IRC is applied here in a Fijian context, the model is intended to be generalizable, aiming to provide a practical instrument for researchers, sport managers, policymakers and local stakeholders. The goal is to allow them to visually illustrate group affinities, rivalries, and sensibilities in terms of collective relationships that characterize sport and society.

This research explores the lived experiences of 10 retired Pasifika (Pacific Islander and Māori) rugby league players who migrated to Australia after 1969. The careers of these Pacific Islander and Māori rugby league players were shaped by their migration experience, hopes for upward socio-economic mobility, the influence of familial motivations and journeys of personal growth amidst challenges and obstacles surrounding Pasifika cultural identity. In responding to leading Pacific scholar Epeli Hau'ofa's call for greater ‘Pacific empowerment’ both economically and geographically, this paper asserts that there is much to be (re)learned about Australian rugby league history by giving primacy to the voices of Pasifika pioneers. This research aims to help empower past, and to a lesser extent, rethink present, Pasifika voices in sport-related labour migration, and sport career experiences in rugby league. Mapping their experiences through Pasifika methodology, ‘talanoa’ (to converse or exchange ideas) and through the lens of a ‘cultural insider’, also allows better understanding of the cultural contexts of Pasifika players, their communities and their clubs. The findings from this paper are intended to fill the gap created by absent and much needed Pasifika sporting voices and perspectives in Australian sporting histories.

There is a key tension associated with ethnographic explorations into the lives of people in the Global South – ‘outsider’ researchers from the Global North who lack experience of the environments they are seeking to understand. A considered response, therefore, is for scholars to seek physical immersion in a field—to live among those they are trying to understand. Such ethnographic inquiries are optimal when researchers have the capacity to engage over long periods of time. However, in some circumstances, this may not feasible. Thus, questions arise about the veracity of field work investigations that are not only temporally brief but undertaken by scholars who lack local experience. This paper reflects on the experiences of a researcher who was faced with those challenges. It provides guidance as to how scholars might prepare for short-term ethnography (STE) in field work, along with the limitations and constraints of such an approach. The research centered on a sport for development and peace study into intergroup relations and ethnic separatism in Fijian sport.

Aquatic activities have been pivotal to the lifestyle of Australian Indigenous peoples for millennia. That historical connection with rivers, streams and beaches is a largely untold story. This paper considers one aspect of the story: the significance swimming for Aboriginal women. Aquatic activities were, for many Aboriginal communities, crucial for food, movement and leisure. Even a cursory trawl through newspapers and memoirs provides observations about the prowess of Aboriginal women as swimmers. But this skill-set dissipated in the wake of territorial conflict, resulting in the displacement or erosion of Aboriginal communities in coastal areas. The paper then moves to the contemporary era, starting with an assumption that the passion for, swimming has been lost for Aboriginal women. Stories about female Indigenous swimmers, alongside the recollections of two mature-age women, present a story of limited opportunity, discrimination and challenges by way of access to water and safety therein.

A recurring theme has emerged from past ANZALS (Australia and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies) Conferences' keynote presentations concerning the status of leisure studies from a teaching and research perspective. While this broad discussion has been raised, little is formally known about the current status of leisure studies in Australian and New Zealand universities. The ANZALS Board initiated a project in 2015 to gain insights into this topic. The purpose of the project was to document issues about leisure studies in Australian and New Zealand universities and to explore strategies that could assist ANZALS to promote leisure studies across various sectors. This initiative sought feedback from the ANZALS Patron organisations as well as members via a workshop conducted at the 2015 ANZALS Conference. Outcomes from the project have identified leisure studies as a diverse and disparate field of study. Leisure studies is no longer a centralised field within Australian and New Zealand universities. Instead, leisure studies have become divergent and focused on the elements within leisure such as recreation, sport, tourism and events, as well as across domains such as management and health. The project outcomes indicate the need for organisations such as ANZALS to develop and maintain collaborative networks with a variety of stakeholders, both within the tertiary sector as well as amongst practitioners in various industry sectors. There is also a need for ANZALS and kindred organisations to recognise and acknowledge the past and ensure its future by examining how leisure studies can be defined for application in a realm of related fields of study.

Previous research into sports officiating at the elite level has primarily focused on factors that impact negatively on sports officials, including experiences of abuse, time pressures and fear of failure. However, factors that have positively influenced the development of elite officials have largely been neglected. This is problematic, as a better knowledge about how elite officials progress to top-tier competitions may improve officiating performance and role satisfaction. This study therefore, aims to identify factors that work positively for individuals who seek to reach elite levels of sport officiating. This is important because it can assist our understanding of how to create a positive environment for the development of young officials, thereby helping with role satisfaction, improved chances of retention and, where appropriate, pathways into career development at the elite level of sport. The context for this study is Australia, with a focus on national competitions in basketball, football (soccer) and Australian Rules football as representative samples for referees and umpires.

Aspirations are prospective and forward looking; what does one seek to achieve? Reflections are retrospective and gaze backwards; has one achieved said aspirations? The following narrative, while indulgently about one individual, is also intended to reflect on wider challenges and opportunities for scholars working in sport history. Academic careers are replete with pragmatism amidst idealism: in my case it was a journey from history, to sport history, and then to sport management.