Author Archive for kathryn

Hockey as a Religion: The Montreal Canadiens

Published on December 19, 2011 in Book and Newsletter. 0 Comments

Sport is all about play and game, aesthetic and strength, passion and emotion, challenge and rivalry. But because sometimes players and fans look for a little extra help from God, gods, spirits or any other Supreme Being, sport is also a matter of beliefs and Faith. Often, sport uses religion if the sport itself does not become a religion first.

Since 2008, the Protestant Theologian Olivier Bauer, a former hockey goaltender, is carefully studying the religious aspects of the Montreal Canadiens. In his book, Olivier Bauer reveals how the Montreal Canadiens becomes a religion, specifies which kind of religion it is, and explains how it is interrelated with Quebec’s Catholicism. From a theological point of view, he analyses two ways of practicing the Montreal Canadiens Religion, shows why both ways are idolatry, denounces the weakness of such a religion, and pleads for an evangelical use of the Montreal Canadiens.

Based on the Montreal Canadiens, Olivier Bauer explains how sport becomes a religion, but he also critics the religion that sport offers.

On the religious aspects of the Montreal Canadiens, Olivier Bauer has published an essay: Une théologie du Canadien de Montréal (Bayard, 2011); with Jean-Marc Barreau he has directed an edited book: La religion du Canadien de Montréal (Fides, 2009). On the food in the Bible, he has wrote a novel: Between Steeple and Stove; A Huguenot gourmet (free download from Papyrus, Université de Montréal Institutional Repository:http://hdl.handle.net/1866/2683).


Announcing the Winner of the International Award for Excellence

Published on November 28, 2011 in Headline, Journal and Newsletter. 0 Comments

Sean Horton, Rylee A. Dionigi, Joseph Baker

Congratulations to Rylee A. Dionigi, Joseph Baker and Sean Horton the winners of the International Award for Excellence in the area of area of Sport and Society for their paper Older Athletes’ Perceived Benefits of Competition.

Abstract: Intense sport competition is typically associated with young people. Also, much of the literature on exercise for older adults focuses on benefits derived from regular physical activity, such as walking, dancing and fitness classes, and suggests that one should avoid extremely strenuous exercise. The rising phenomenon of older people competing in sport presents a challenge to these assumptions. In 2009, approximately 28,000 athletes from 95 countries gathered in Sydney, Australia to compete across 28 different sports at the World Masters Games. We interviewed 44 competitors (23 females, 21 males; aged 56-90 years; M=72) about what they gained from competing in sport that extended beyond non-competitive physical activity outcomes. Five key themes emerged from the data. The first theme, “I like a challenge”, depicts Masters sport as an ideal context to test one’s abilities. In particular, lifelong athletes (or those who had returned to sport after a long break) enjoyed the satisfaction of knowing they “can still do it”! On the other hand, Masters competitions provide space for older people to begin sport in later life, as the second theme highlights, “I discovered that at this age group I could win things”! Theme three, “I’m more motivated to work harder”, describes how regular competitions provided goals for participants which structured their training. Also, the act of competing brought out their best performances. The fourth theme, “You know where you stand”, shows how participants liked that competition enabled them to compare themselves with others of their own age cohort. The final theme, “Travel” and “companionship”, explains how the organized, competitive structure of Masters sport and its club system allowed for regular travel, the establishment of ongoing friendships and weekly social interaction. Our data suggest that sport provides unique benefits to participants above and beyond those gained from general physical activity.

Finalists for the International Award for Excellence

Published on November 24, 2011 in Journal and Newsletter. 0 Comments

sport_frontCongratulations to all of the Award finalists:

Hockey as a Religion: The Montreal Canadiens

Published on November 23, 2011 in Book, Headline and Newsletter. 0 Comments

Hockey as a Religion: The Montreal Canadiens by Olivier Bauer is now available as part of the  Sport and Society series.

Sport is all about play and game, aesthetic and strength, passion and emotion, challenge and rivalry. But because sometimes players and fans look for a little extra help from God, gods, spirits or any other Supreme Being, sport is also a matter of beliefs and Faith. Often, sport uses religion if the sport itself does not become a religion first.

In Montreal, the fans’ passion and emotion benefits the Montreal Canadiens, the oldest and the most victorious National Hockey League team.

Since 2008, the Protestant Theologian Olivier Bauer, a former hockey goaltender, is carefully studying the religious aspects of the Montreal Canadiens. In his book, Olivier Bauer reveals how the Montreal Canadiens becomes a religion, specifies which kind of religion it is, and explains how it is interrelated with Quebec’s Catholicism. From a theological point of view, he analyses two ways of practicing the Montreal Canadiens Religion, shows why both ways are idolatry, denounces the weakness of such a religion, and pleads for an evangelical use of the Montreal Canadiens.

Based on the Montreal Canadiens, Olivier Bauer explains how sport becomes a religion, but he also critics the religion that sport offers.

Sport and Society Journal Volume 2, Issue 3 now available

Published on November 14, 2011 in Journal and Newsletter. 0 Comments

sport_frontThe third issue of Volume 2 of The International Journal of Sport and Society is now available.

Volume 2, Issue 3 contains:

 

 

Sport & Society Journal Associate Editors listing available

Published on November 8, 2011 in Journal and Newsletter. 0 Comments

sport_frontAs part of the process of publishing The International Journal of Sport and Society all submissions are sent for peer review, prior to publication.

Assessment, comments and guidance by the referees are an essential part of the publication process and invaluable to the authors of the submitted papers.

In recognition of the important role of referees, the international advisory board acknowledges all referees who have refereed papers as an ‘Associate Editor’ in the volume of the journal they have contributed to.

The Associate Editors listing for Volume 2 of  The International Journal of Sport and Society is now available.


Call for Book Reviewers

Published on October 28, 2011 in Book and Newsletter. 0 Comments Tags: .

Common Ground Publishing is seeking distinguished peer reviewers to evaluate book manuscripts submitted to the Sport and Society Book Series.

As part of our commitment to intellectual excellence and a rigorous review process, Common Ground sends book manuscripts that have received initial editorial approval to peer reviewers to further evaluate and provide constructive feedback. The comments and guidance that these reviewers supply is invaluable to our authors and an essential part of the publication process.

Common Ground recognizes the important role of referees by acknowledging book reviewers as members of the Sport and Society Book Series Editorial Review Board for a period of at least one year. The list of members of the Editorial Review Board will be posted on our website. In addition, Common Ground also offers a US$200 voucher for each completed review which meets the standards set out by the Commissioning Editor at the commencement of assignment. Vouchers may be used in the Common Ground Bookstore or for registration at one of our international conferences.

If you would like to referee book manuscripts submitted to Sport and Society please email:

  1. a brief description of your professional credentials
  2. a list of your areas of interest and expertise
  3. a copy of your CV with current contact details

If we feel you are qualified and we require refereeing for manuscripts within your purview, we will contact you.

Sustainability and Sport edited by Jill Savery and Keith Gilbert

Published on October 2, 2011 in Book and Newsletter. 0 Comments

Sustainability and Sport edited by Jill Savery and Keith Gilbert is now available as part of the  Sport and Society series.

Jill Savery is a sustainability advisor and an Olympic gold medalist with a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management from Yale University.

Dr. Keith Gilbert is a Professor and Director of the Centre for Disability, Sport and Health in the School of Health, Sport and Bioscience at the University of East London, London, United Kingdom.

Sustainability and Sport is a synthesis of contemporary insights and expertise offered from a novel collection of thirty-four practitioners and academics in the field, who continue to play key roles in the expansion of sustainable solutions for major sport events, sport organizations and society. This seminal book details the most important insights from these experts in making sport more sustainable, and in using sport to promote sustainability. It is a guide for good practice within the sports industry, as well as a research and knowledge exchange guide for the burgeoning field of sport and sustainability. Industry pioneers, event managers, athletes, global sport event sponsors, academics, sport organizations, NGOs, international organizations, business strategists, event bid teams, technical consultants, and others working in this emerging discipline offer their perspectives to share and create knowledge. A significant section of the book is devoted to fostering sustainability at the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, including perspectives on event management, sustainable development and urban regeneration, event legacies, corporate sponsorship activation, and maximizing engagement with sport event audiences.



Sport and Society Journal Volume 2, Issue 2 now available

Published on September 19, 2011 in Journal and Newsletter. 0 Comments

sport_frontThe second issue of Volume 2 of The International Journal of Sport and Society is now available.

Volume 2, Issue 2 contains:

 

 

 

 

 

Call for Journal Editor

Published on September 7, 2011 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

The International Journal of Sport and Society seeks an editor, or team of editors, for a one-year term. This is an opportunity to make a significant contribution to what we believe will become one of the leading journals in its field, the journal’s associated conference and, more broadly, the knowledge-community which the journal and conference seek to serve.

The roles of the editor are to:

  • write an introduction for the Journal volume which would be included in the first issue for the year, and possibly on the website, the newsletter and other appropriate places or for the purposes of marketing and promotion.
  • collate papers addressing a theme of the editor’s choosing into a book, to be launched at the conference at the completion of the editor’s term. The chapters may be drawn from submissions to the journal during this or recent years, and other material as considered appropriate.
  • actively solicit manuscripts for the Journal from well-known and notable members of the community—these would could be refereed if the author wished, or regarded as ‘invited papers’.
  • assist the Commissioning Editor with suggestions of supplementary peer reviewers for specific papers (and this will never be burdensome – note that the Commissioning Editor of the Journal finalizes a majority of the peer reviewer requirements based on thematic matching and ‘mutual obligation’ principles in which all author requested to review up to three other papers).
  • promote the journal throughout their network and other associated networks.
  • maintain regular communications with the community via periodical blog posts to the community website (which feeds automatically to our email newsletter, Facebook and Twitter).

The editor will be offered a complimentary electronic subscription to the Journal, free copies of the book which they edit, an electronic subscription to the book series as well as complimentary registrations to attend the conferences at the beginning and end of their term.

Qualifications

The Editor of the Journal must possess the following attributes:

  • They will have successfully obtained higher degree, and have academic teaching and scholarly research experience in an area related to the subject matter of the Journal.
  • They will have published in this or other comparable scholarly journals.

Applicants are asked to send:

  1. a cover letter outlining their interest and relevant experience, and the ways in which you would propose to enhance the profile of the journal
  2. a curriculum vitae
  3. a special theme outline: a title with paragraph explanation.

Please send applications and supporting documentation to journals@sportandsociety.com.

The deadline for applications is 26 September 2011.