Sports culture

Sports culture as a subject area focuses on the organization and culture of sports. Large parts of the content of sports culture have existed for a long time at GIH, above all in sports history, sports pedagogy, sociological research, and sports management.

History

Sports culture deals with questions about governance, professionalization, and commercialization from both contemporary and historical perspectives. The scientific weight lies in cultural theory, sociology, and history. The field has a strong foundation in the social sciences and humanities. "Homo Ludens, the playing man," written by Huzinga (1938), is usually cited internationally as one of the first texts in the area. It emphasizes the importance of play and competition for culture and society.

Sports culture is about understanding how structures and ideas in society affect different types of organizations and human actions, but also about the ability to handle these structures and ideas fairly and democratically.

Orientations

At GIH, the subject area is made up of three specializations that sometimes overlap in both research and teaching:

Sport management is about organization, leadership, and governance, including legal and ethical aspects. Communication, media, and events are essential parts.

Sports history focuses on continuity and change in sports over time. This includes, among other things, professionalization, the impact of the media on sports, and the rise of the sports movement.

The sociology of sport deals with the sport as a social and cultural phenomenon, where, for example, value systems and power relations within the sport are included, as well as related questions about identity and meaning.

Collaboration and collaboration partners

GIH collaborates regionally with Södertörn University through the Sport management education program. The students study 90 higher education credits in sports science at GIH and 90 higher education credits in business administration at Södertörn. Applications for the program are made via Södertörn University.

GIH also conducts research and seminar activities in collaboration with colleagues at other universities, both nationally and internationally.

In addition, GIH cooperates with non-profit, commercial, and public sports-related organizations at a local, regional and national level.