Veiled women athletes in the 2008 Beijing Olympics: media accounts

The aim of this paper is to explore and to compare different international media accounts about the presence of veiled athletes in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. In other words, to uncover whether the discourse of clash of cultures or that of cross-cultural dialogue has shaped their position about Islam, Muslim identities, Muslim women and the Muslim world in general. Furthermore, from the perspective of media in the Arab and the Muslim world, the purpose of the analysis is to explore their responses to international media, and to investigate their positions in relation to the host nation (China), Asian culture and the Olympics

Soccer, post-colonial and post-conflict discourses in Algeria: Algérie-France, 6 Octobre 2001,“ce n'était pas un simple match de foot”

This paper reports an analysis of press articles of selected Algerian francophone newspapers, which were published before, during and after a ‘friendly’ soccer game between the French and Algerian national teams on 6 October 2001, in the Stade de France in Paris. The paper seeks to identify how the ‘identity’ and sense of belonging of French-Algerians, known also as Beurs, Maghrebins, les émigrés de France, or Français-plus was located, negotiated in the Algerian journalistic discourse. It considers the manner in which concepts such as ‘culture’, ‘locality’ ‘nationhood’ and ‘citizenship’ were mobilized to define or situate the identity of Algerian immigrants (or those of Algerian origin) in comparison with that of Algerian (local-national) identity. The ‘friendly’ soccer game between the two national teams become a symbolic space, another occasion, for remembering the French-Algerian colonial past. Moreover, it represented an opportunity to reposition Algeria in the international (sporting) arena, and more importantly, to reassert social ties between Algerians, as part of the post-conflict process for national reconciliation. This was the product of more than ten years of generalised violence, which has been termed the ‘second war’ (also la guerre sans images) of Algeria, after the first war for independence against French colonialism

Football sub-culture and youth politics in Algeria

This paper addresses two connected issues: first, the state’s engagement with football in different phases of Algeria’s transitions since 1980s (e.g. the end of state’s socialist ideology, multipartism and an era of political violence); second, football chanting among young football fans in Algiers – submerged in brutal conflict during the 1990s’ – who have found in the internet in general, and social networks (YouTube, Facebook and Dailymotion) in particular, a new medium: (a) to reframe their identity, in opposition to both the institutionalized discourse on youth and political legitimacy, and the imposed realities of geopolitics that constrain their mobility; (b) to express their malaise with the socio-economic conditions; and (c) to construct their future in an ‘imagined elsewhere’

Global sport and local modernity : the case of 'professionalisation' of football in Algeria

EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Sport, Muslim identities and cultures in the UK, an emerging policy issue: case studies of Leicester and Birmingham

An understanding of diversity and its implications for policy is critical to those charged with delivering sporting services in culturally plural societies. This paper reports a research project which aimed to examine how, on the one hand, Muslims in two specific local contexts in the UK (Leicester in the East Midlands; Birmingham in the West Midlands) make sense of the relationship between their religious (Islamic) identities and sporting interests and, on the other, how local policy makers perceived and responded to the sporting needs of these Muslim communities. According to the 2001 census, Leicester and Birmingham represent, respectively, one of the most ethnically diverse areas in Britain and the domicile for one-third of the Muslim population in Britain. Interviews were undertaken with representatives of Muslim organizations, governmental and quasi-governmental sporting organizations, in both cities. Critical Discourse Analysis of interviewees’ responses reveal pluralistic views on a range of issues such as: the ‘‘(un)suitability’’ of the environment/space provided for, or accessed by, Muslims to practise sport; funding; gender equity; equity and social inclusion agenda versus cultural and religious diversities; and a resistance (on the part of policy makers) to target provision at faith groups

Sport, policy and politics in Lebanon

Lebanon offers an interesting context for the study of sport policy as there is a lack of literature on sport policies in developing countries, and particularly, in small- and multi-confessional societies. Hence, the aim of this study was to illustrate how the dynamic of power between the state and the political parties/confessional communities is reflected in the national sport system. In particular the paper seeks to provide some insight into the mechanism in place to implement the concept of ‘balance of power’ or so-called mosaic society within the national sport system, looking specifically at structure and resource allocation

Media perceptions of Arab investment in European football clubs: the case of Malaga and Paris Saint-Germain

One of the most visible consequences of the recent liberalisation and commercialisation of European football is the growing levels of Arab capital investment in the European football market. Several professional football clubs have been taken over by Arab investors in England, France and Spain. This paper seeks to explore the perceptions about Arab investment in the European football market. Set against a background of mistrust towards foreign citizens in the continent, the paper aims to ascertain the perception of recent Arab investment in European football markets. This is a first stage in a larger project that will include, in due course, a wider selection of case studies and a wider variety of media outlets in the analysis. This paper presents the case studies of two clubs recently taken over by Arab investors: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France, and Málaga CF in Spain. The paper sets to elucidate, whether Arab investment is perceived an opportunity for development or as a risk for the identity of the clubs, or both. To do so, the case studies address three different dimensions: Economic, regulatory, and identity. The paper employs a qualitative methodology through thematic analysis of selected publications in the French and Spanish press. In terms of structure the paper first discusses the global and local dynamics of sport in Arabian Peninsula, particularly the network between business and politics. In the second section addresses the question of the governance of football in relation to the shift of power from Europe and South America to elsewhere in the world. The last section is devoted to the analysis of the case studies: PSG owned by Qatar Sport Investment and Málaga CF (hereon with referred simply as Málaga) owned by Qatari Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Thani. The main conclusion of our analysis is that Arab investment in these two clubs has been cautiously welcome. There is a dual discourse whereby positive perceptions of the takeovers are constantly counterbalanced with apprehension with a possible lost of the clubs’ history and local identity. It is difficult to separate the positive and the negative perceptions in the discourse. Both run in parallel constantly and it is not possible to conclude whether one or the other is prevalent

Representation and structural discrimination in football in Europe: the case of minorities and women [full report]

Representation and structural discrimination in football in Europe: the case of minorities and women [full report

Experimental model to estimate draught force for mouldboard ploughs; incorporating effects of plough geometric parameters

Several models have been proposed in literature to calculate agricultural tools draught force for ploughing. These models generally disregard the geometrical characteristic of active surfaces of working parts. For this reason, tests on channel of traction were carried out to check the validity of two models frequently used, namely those of Gorjachkin and Gee Clough. Results obtained show that for the same form and similar work conditions, the efforts were different from one model to another. Tests were also carried out on two active forms of surfaces. Draught force calculated using separately; one of these two models gave the same results for two different surfaces. Whereas, the values determined on channel were significantly different from one form to another. This paper proposes a more universal model that connects draught force with soil state and especially, geometrical characteristics of active surfaces. The model established by Amara in 2009; using the modelling method BuckinghamVachy was checked and compared with Gorjachkin and Gee Clough models which account for two forms of active surfaces of ploughs made in Algeria by commercial companies [ENPMA (cultural form) and SACRA (cylindrical form)]. The calculated force using Amara's model was closer to the values recorded on channel when compared to those calculated with Gorjachkin and Gee Clough models

Representation and structural discrimination in football in Europe: the case of minorities and women (summary report)

Representation and structural discrimination in football in Europe: the case of minorities and women (summary report