Handbook on Sport and Culture by Girginov, Vassil; Girginova, Katerina;

Long description:

This Handbook adopts an intercultural perspective to present the first systematic analysis of the relationship between culture and sport. The Handbook is structured around an innovative analytical framework comprising the seven key dimensions of the culture-sport nexus, integrating the meanings and structures of sport with the interpretation of culture.

With expert perspectives from authors specialising in cultural studies, anthropology, sociology, marketing, management and psychology, this Handbook utilises case studies and practical examples to explore the dynamic relationships between sport and culture. Chapters expand on the cultural production and consumption of traditional and new sports, the singularisation and homogenisation of sport cultures and political recognition of cultural issues and multiculturalism in sport. This Handbook integrates the meanings and structures of sport with the interpretation of culture as an organizing force which enables meaningful interactions between individuals, groups and communities.

The Handbook on Sport and Culture is an essential reference for academics and students of sport, sociology and cultural studies, as well as business, management and policy. Policy makers and actors within sporting and cultural institutions will also find the insights presented here invaluable.

This Handbook adopts an intercultural perspective to present the first systematic analysis of the relationship between culture and sport. The Handbook is structured around an innovative analytical framework comprising the seven key dimensions of the culture-sport nexus, integrating the meanings and structures of sport with the interpretation of culture.

‘The Handbook of Sport and Culture is a groundbreaking and timely contribution that fills a significant gap in the academic landscape by offering the first comprehensive, interdisciplinary exploration of the dynamic relationship between sport and culture. Unlike previous works that treat culture as a peripheral concept, this Handbook positions it as a central analytical lens, integrating insights from anthropology, sociology, psychology, organizational studies, and more. One of the book’s greatest strengths lies in its conceptual clarity and structure. It introduces a robust framework of seven cultural dimensions—normative, innovative, order-building, singular/plural, dialectic of system and practice, production-based, and political—each linked to core processes in sport. This structure not only organizes the volume but also provides a powerful tool for understanding how sport both shapes and is shaped by cultural forces. The Handbook’s global and intercultural perspective, supported by contributions from 45 scholars across five continents, ensures a rich diversity of viewpoints. It challenges dominant Western paradigms and highlights the socio-political, economic, and symbolic roles of sport in various cultural contexts. By bridging theory and practice, the book offers invaluable insights for academics, practitioners, and policymakers alike, making it an essential resource for anyone interested in the cultural dimensions of sport.’

Table of Contents:

Contents
1 Sport and culture: an introduction 1
Vassil Girginov and Katerina Girginova
PART I SPORT AND CULTURE AS LEARNED SYSTEMS
Introduction to Part I
2 Numbers, quantification, and the culture of sport 20
Andrew Baerg
3 Sport governance codes as social and cultural norms 34
Mathew Dowling
PART II SPORT CULTURES AS INNOVATIVE SYSTEMS
Introduction to Part II
4 Making new sport cultures 50
Trygve B. Broch and Marianna Melenteva
5 The impact of culture on sport innovations 62
Daniele Canini and Anne Tjønndal
6 Sport learning cultures: interrogating the complexities tied to rugby,
cricket, and football’s global development 75
Hazel Maxwell, Michelle O’Shea, Christopher Yorke and Mike Rayner
7 Managing cultural change in sport organisations 91
Michael C. McDougall
8 Extended reality cultures in sport 103
Katerina Girginova
PART III CULTURE AS AN ORDER-BUILDING ACTIVITY IN SPORT
Introduction to Part III
9 Cultural perspectives on sport legislation 121
Jeffrey F. Levine
10 Sporting culture and activism: lacrosse and the subtle power of playfulness
in achieving social change through sport. 137
Travis Taylor and Naofumi Suzuki
11 Managing across cultures: sport leadership 149
Sam S. Chen, Grant Son and James J. Zhang
PART IV SINGULAR AND PLURAL SPORT CULTURES
Introduction to Part IV
12 Mega sport events as universal cultural signifiers 167
Ryutaro Yamakita, Wenbo Guo and Milena M. Parent
13 Local sport events as cultural signifiers 185
Kamilla Swart-Arries, Gift Muresherwa and Janice Hemmonsbey
14 From singularity to homogenization: ethnicity, culture, and organizational
structures in sport 198
Nathan D’Hoore and Jeroen Scheerder
15 Sport branding across cultures 211
Dalia Abdel Rahman Farrag
PART V SPORT CULTURE AS THE UNITY OF SYSTEM AND PRACTICE
Introduction to Part V
16 Cultural discourses in sport, sports media and sports gaming: an
international perspective 228
Jacco van Sterkenburg
17 Sport consumption across cultures 241
Andrew Grainger, David L. Andrews and Junbin Yang
18 Digital sport consumption cultures 259
Carleigh Yeomans, Adam Karg and Samuel Duncan
19 The cultural practices of sport: examining dual career assemblages 275
Donka Darpatova-Hruzewicz and Tatiana V. Ryba
PART VI THE CULTURAL PRODUCTION OF SPORT
Introduction to Part VI
20 Cultural production and consumption in sport 297
Adam Gemar
21 The production of new sport cultures: the case of breaking 311
Mikhail Batuev
22 Exploring fandom material cultures of sports and gaming 325
David J. Leonard and Kishonna L. Gray
23 Geographies of sport culture research 338
Xiaoyan Xing
PART VII THE POLITICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF CULTURE FOR SPORT
Introduction to Part VII
24 Sport policy cultures 359
Shushu Chen and Tingyu Hou
25 The cultural basis of elite sport systems: an Institutional Logics Perspective 375
Ralph Ramos and Veerle De Bosscher
26 The cultural politics of esports 391
Anne Tjønndal and Eivind Å. Skille