The causes of career termination from sport and their relationship to post-retirement adjustment among elite-amateur athletes in Australia

Former athletes (N = 48) from a variety of sports provided information about the primary reason for their athletic retirement and the degree of adjustment required. Content analysis of reasons for retirement indicated that this sample of athletes retired from competitive sport for numerous reasons, including age, injury, deselection, and voluntary career termination. Subsequent comparisons between athletes who retired for voluntary and involuntary reasons indicated that involuntary retirement was associated with significantly greater emotional and social adjustment on career termination. In addition, the former athletes who experienced the greatest adjustment difficulty perceived the least personal control over the reasons for retirement. Implications for professional and applied work in the area are discussed, and suggestions are made regarding future research on career transitions from sport

Sport and social media research: A review

The emergence of social media has profoundly impacted the delivery and consumption of sport. In the current review we analysed the existing body of knowledge of social media in the field of sport management from a service-dominant logic perspective, with an emphasis on relationship marketing. We reviewed 70 journal articles published in English-language sport management journals, which investigated new media technologies facilitating interactivity and co-creation that allow for the development and sharing of user-generated content among and between brands and individuals (i.e., social media). Three categories of social media research were identified: strategic, operational, and user-focussed. The findings of the review demonstrate that social media research in sport management aligns with service-dominant logic and illustrates the role of social media in cultivating relationships among and between brands and individuals. Interaction and engagement play a crucial role in cultivating these relationships. Discussion of each category, opportunities for future research as well as suggestions for theoretical approaches, research design and context are advanced

Sports mega-events as part of a nation's soft power strategy: The cases of Germany (2006) and the UK (2012)

The potential positive impact on a nation's image has moved from being a welcome consequence to a significant justification for investing in hosting sports mega-events. Mobilising Joseph Nye's concept of 'soft power' we empirically investigate Germany's strategic use of a sports 'mega' (the 2006 FIFA World Cup) to successfully alter their image among 'foreign publics'. We then analyse the example of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games for Britain's international prestige. For both cases we draw on and analyse official government documents and newspaper sources written before and after the Games. The findings reveal the stark contrast between Germany's and Britain's sport and 'soft power' strategies: the former undertook a long-term, well-planned and resourced approach to altering its poor international image; the latter appeared far less concerned about capitalising on the Olympics to enhance Britain's (seemingly robust) international image