Glasgow 2014, the media and Scottish politics – the (post)imperial symbolism of the Commonwealth Games

This article critically examines print media discourses regarding the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games. The forthcoming analysis considers the political symbolism of the Commonwealth Games with regards to the interlinkages between the British Empire, sport and the global political status of the UK, with specific consideration given to the UK’s declining global power as well as the interconnections between the 2014 Games and the Scottish independence referendum. Hechter’s (1975) ‘internal colonialism’ thesis, which portrays Scotland’s marginalised status within the UK, is drawn upon to critically explore the political symbolism of sport for Scottish nationalism, before discussion focuses upon the extent to which the modern Commonwealth is symptomatic of the UK’s declining status as a global power. Finally, the existence of these narrative tropes in print media coverage of the Commonwealth Games is examined, allowing for critical reflections on the continuing interconnections between the media, sport, nationalism and post-imperial global politics

Duty of Karius: media framing of concussion following the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final

Concussion is a growing issue within sport, including within soccer. Despite the developing medical understanding of concussion, there is still an array of sociocultural discourses and misconceptions around it. In the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final, Liverpool Football Club goalkeeper Loris Karius suffered a head collision in the 48th minute. Postmatch, he was subsequently diagnosed as being concussed. As a result of his concussion, Karius’ performance was arguably impeded, with suggestions that this may have resulted in him making some key errors in the game. Through an analysis of media framing in 52 news articles in the days following the incident, four dominant frames were identified: deflection away from concussion, misunderstanding concussion, education on concussion, and recommendations. Frames that focussed on the lack of awareness and preventative measures that are present in soccer served to highlight the lack of significance afforded to concussion at this particular point in time. In particular, we highlight differences in concussion discourses between those working inside and outside the soccer industry. Overall, these findings contribute to the growing body of sociological work examining concussion in sport

"A besieged tribe"?: Nostalgia, White cultural identity and the role of Rugby in a changing South Africa

South African society has been in a state of tremendous changes in recent years. These changes have been seen by many whites as a threat to their society and "way of life". South African rugby success through its national team, the Springboks, has been one of the most potent sites for the demonstration of white power and cultural identity. This paper explores actions of white rugby fans on South Africa's return to international rugby against their arch-rivals the New Zealand All Blacks in 1992 in the context of white cultural retreat into nostalgic representations of the past in resisting cultural assimilation within a black dominated new South Africa. For that moment inside the concrete bowl, it seemed like a besieged tribe had gathered to take strength in their numbers and to send, from the protected citadel, a message of defiance to their perceived persecutors. Shaun Johnson, Star, 17 August 1992. Let us, as loyal South Africans, rise in mass and shout loudly and clearly: We love our country, its flag and our national anthem, "Die Stem". We will not be forced by the ANC and its Communist associates into losing our identity. Mrs. M. Severin, Boksburg, Letter to Citizen, 20 August 1992

'Dress as a man' New Zealand men's netball as contested terrain

This article is based on 13 open-ended interviews with current and former executive council members of the New Zealand Men's Netball Association (NZMNA). The article disputes the established view that regional women's netball associations and New Zealand's national netball association, Netball New Zealand (NNZ), fostered men's netball competitions in the early 1980s. The article instead argues that men's netball was developed by players prevented from participating in women's competitions. The article also suggests that the limited existing literature relating to the NZMNA fails to acknowledge much of the detail and character of the early association, including the critical influences of gay and transgender players and the cultural influences of Maori (New Zealand's indigenous people) and Pacific Islanders. Only more recently have flamboyant displays and marginalized masculinities been excluded, thereby rendering the NZMNA netball competitions a relatively hetero-normative domain