Dr Jo Clarke

The invited lecture explored how sport can be purposefully leveraged to promote individual wellbeing, community cohesion, and national development. Participants will gain insight into sport’s contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and examine empirical case studies illustrating effective Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) initiatives.

The growth of institutions, corporations and International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs) using sport as a tool for social mobility in developing countries has placed the Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) sector within broader debates of northern hegemony (Giulianotti, 2004; Hayhurst, 2009; Kidd, 2008). Critical analyses of the SDP sector has suggested that such INGO programmes operate within hegemonic relations in which privileged groups (i.e. the international organisation) maintain a position of benefit and leverage over others (i.e. national organisations in the global south) through social and cultural negotiations. This chapter is based upon the context of Sport INGOs’ tendency to use volunteer-based delivery models within Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), which has been described as a prime location for SDP activities (Levermore & Beacom, 2009). Using a combination of post-colonial and social capital theory the chapter draws on the suggestion by Darnell and Hayhurst (2012) to illustrate the perspectives, motivations and personal gains of the SDP sector’s front line: its volunteers, as a topic for critical inquiry. In doing so, compares the motives of international volunteers from a global north country (UK) and national volunteers from a global south nation (Cameroon) who work together on the same programme. In order to understand the context of international and national sports volunteers, the chapter comprises of the following sections. Beginning with an outline of the academic context and analytical frameworks of post-colonial and social capital theory, we then move onto an introduction of the research context and methodology. Next, drawing on empirical data we highlight the key similarities and differences of international sports volunteers from Cricket Without Boundaries (CWB) and national sports volunteers from Cameroon Cricket Federation (CCF) who have volunteered on a two week project in Cameroon. Finally, we reflect on the data within the context of the theoretical frameworks introduced earlier. By highlighting our chosen case study it is our intention our work provokes debate and reflection by volunteer led organisations operating within an international collaboration. The motives and social capital gains of sport for development and peace volunteers in Cameroon: A comparative analysis of international and national volunteers.

Following independence, diversity portrayed the morphological nomenclature of the African nations. African post-colonial state is characterized by ethnolinguistic variation and cultural pluralism. Governing such a political environment requires a model of governance pigeonholed to absorb the divergence ethnic groups that exist within the socio-political topography of the state. The identitarian configuration of African societies and recognition of ethnic disparities thus requires appropriate policy responses to accommodate ethnic and cultural minority groups to partake in the economic and political affairs of the state. This rationalizes the necessity for the adoption of multiculturalism in public policy and administration in Africa. Therefore, multicultural administration is one of the numerous governance strategies adopted in many African nations to manage ethnic fractionalization and foster peaceful co-existence among the different groups. Such policies have been embraced to ensure equal political representation, equality in employment distribution as well as to safeguard all-inclusive governance. In Nigeria, the principle of federal character as enshrined in the constitution aims to address such regional, cultural and ethnic differences. In Cameroon, the politics of balanced regional development was employed to appease ethnic and cultural diversity. Therefore, this chapter aims to compare multicultural administration and public policymaking in Nigeria and Cameroon

Establishing a charitable community sport foundation is a popular model for professional sport clubs to engage with their community and attempt to positively impact social outcomes. The mission of community sport foundations of professional sport clubs tends to focus on the ‘power of sport’ and the brand of the professional club to support and inspire our community. Previous literature has explored why professional sports clubs engage in community-based activities and the value they derive from a corporate social responsibility (CSR) perspective. A related body of existing research has focused on understanding of the nature of community-based activities and debated the importance of measuring the impact of their development programmes. However, to date, no academic study has explored what ‘success’ and ‘impact’ look like within the charitable sport foundations sector. As such, this study aims to develop an understanding about the nature and impact of community-based activities by specifically exploring how charitable sports foundations of professional team sport organisations define ‘success’ and measure ‘impact’ in relation to their development programmes. The research design of this project is qualitative in nature, with data collection using a snowball sampling approach. Data consists of 23 interviews with the CEO of Head of Trust / Foundation at 23 Football Club Community Trust (FCCTs) in England (6 Premier League, 8 Championship and 9 League One). The findings showed that there is a considerable range of interpretation to what impact and success looks like at an organisational level at FCCTs. In addition, the development of monitoring and evaluation (M&E) tools and processes within FCCTs differs greatly. Depending on the operational model of the FCCTs in terms of staffing, work streams and revenue streams directly relates to the development of M&E processes and if the FCCT invests resources to produce impact and social value reports.

It is now commonplace for professional team sport organisations (PTSO) to have an attached charitable trust or foundation. The foundation/trust uses the brand of the PTSO to engage in charitable and sport development activities to positively contribute to social outcomes. The purpose of this presentation is to provide the current state of play of trusts and foundations attached to County Cricket Clubs (CCC) and how as a network they can establish themselves to be a key player to impact specific social outcomes. This research study chose a qualitative design with data including semi-structured interviews with CEOs/senior managers of trusts and foundations attached to CCCs, impact/annual reports and externally facing web-based content from seven cricket trusts and foundations attached to CCCs. The gap between the most and least developed charitable is considerable. There are CCC charitable trusts that have a low staff base and are currently formulating what their role is. Whereas other charitable trusts have well developed workstreams, strong connections at a local, regional, and national level and a detailed strategy with clear aims and objectives. There is a lack of oversight within English cricket as the England and Wales Cricket Board does not have an umbrella organisation as seen in football (e.g., Premier League Charitable Fund and English Football League Trust).

The purpose of this article is to introduce a holistic framework of power that can serve to examine constraining and enabling manifestations of power within international Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) partnerships. The article is grounded in the recognition that the international SDP sector is wrapped up in ‘post-colonial residue’ and brings to the fore issues and power and inequality based on the construction and maintenance of hegemonic power relations. The article calls for SDP scholars to challenge the nature of partnerships and practices within the sector between international partners from the global north and global south. To develop and advance the case for this novel theoretical framework for studying power in SDP, the article is organized into three parts. The first part highlights the critical literature from the SDP and international development sectors concerning the nature of power relations with a specific focus on critical debates concerning social hierarchies. The second part offers a theoretical proposition and a three-phase theoretical model drawing on the work of Giulianotti, Lukes and Coleman to argue that power within international SDP partnerships is not static but needs to be recognized as a complex interplay of actions and outcomes. Finally, the article highlights how and why the holistic theoretical framework may be useful for SDP scholars in analysing and challenging power relations in future empirical-based research.

This chapter explores how English cricket ideologies interface with local cricket in the postcolonial nation of Cameroon. It describes the concept of “imagined communities” to demonstrate how the sport has been developed largely by anglophone Cameroonians as a way to reimagine their English heritage and sense of community. The chapter explores cricket has emerged in Cameroon and English ideologies remain dominant. It deals with a literature detailing Cameroon’s cultural history; the relationship of sport to imagined communities; implications of postcolonial theory for sport; and the contemporary role of cricket in Cameroon. The chapter highlights Cameroon’s cricket culture by examining the infrastructure, ideologies, and culture of the Cameroon Cricket Federation (CCF) and how these aspects interface with colonial ideologies associated with cricket. The fieldwork took place in the two mainstays of Cameroon cricket: Yaounde, home to the CCF offices, and the city of Buea in the Southwest Region, a development region for the CCF.

This article critically examines the portrayal of sport for development (SfD) international volunteering by UK Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Volunteer tourism or ‘voluntourism’ is a popular experience in which individuals combine international travel with voluntary work in a destination typically in the Global South in a bid to offer support to those in need. A body of literature offers an optimistic view of volunteer tourism, suggesting that it can facilitate the development of cross-cultural understanding among volunteers and host communities. However, there is also critical literature which argues that if volunteer tourism programmes are not carefully developed and managed, they can lead to cross-cultural misunderstanding and reinforce negative cultural stereotypes; this latter critique provides both the justification and context for this article. Several studies have acknowledged the centrality of Global Northern volunteers to the delivery of sport-based programmes in the Global South under the banner of SfD [Darnell (Citation2007). Playing with race: Right to play and the production of whiteness in ‘development through sport’. Sport in Society, 10(4), 560–579; Darnell (2011). Identity and learning in international volunteerism: ‘Sport for development and peace’ internships. Development in Practice, 21(7), 974–986; Lucas & Jeanes (Citation2019). Ethnographic reflections of the role of global north volunteers in sport-for-development. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 55(7), 953–974]. However, given the pivotal role that UK HEIs play in marketing and facilitating such opportunities for students, there is a lack of research that critically examines how such volunteer opportunities are portrayed by HEIs. The article draws from a sample of thirteen UK HEIs to examine how they discursively frame SfD international volunteer opportunities. The findings illustrate how student volunteers benefit and even socially transform because of volunteering in poor Global South communities. The article concludes by outlining a series of recommendations for UK HEIs to consider regarding their portrayal of international SfD volunteering.

India boasts a rich sporting heritage dating back thousands of years. Despite its rich sporing culture, India only began developing its own sporting ecosystem in 1954 with the creation of the All-India Council of Sports (AICS), shortly after gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1947. However, in the seven decades that have passed, the systematisation and development of sport of India has been relatively slow and internationally India have had limited success on the elite stage. The aim of this profile is to provide a detailed insight into the vast sporting ecosystem in India by exploring the policies, enablers, and barriers in relation to sport participation, elite sport, and the use of sport across the nation to tackle non-sporting objectives. Following an introduction highlighting the key demographics and sporting culture in India, the profile moves onto outline the state led provision of sport in India, including how sport is organised and funded. Next, the significance of the commercial sport sector in India is highlighted, followed by a section detailing the growth of the not-for-profit sector. Finally, the profile highlights the current public policy priorities and challenges, which include elite sport success, tackling inactivity and poor governance in sport before offering some concluding observations.

With a population of over 20 million, the central African nation of Cameroon has over 200 ethnic groups speaking over 230 languages. Its triple colonial heritage makes it a unique nation, fused with many political, economic and social complexities. This country profile provides a review of how sport is organised and governed and begins with an overview of the democratic and postcolonial past it has witnessed since independence was gained in 1961. Sport is popular in Cameroon, and its development is largely led by the central government. The profile begins with a discussion of the key sport policy developments in recent years and in particular the rise in the popularity of football over other sporting codes, and how this intersects positively and negatively with politics. Next, the organisation and structure of sport in Cameroon are outlined, specifically school sport, elite sport and disability sports provision. The profile notes a small yet emergent non-state-led sector, which uses sport for development purposes, which is driven in the main by international organisations and donors. Finally, the key priorities and associated challenges for Cameroon sport are discussed, including the desire to grow the nation’s sporting infrastructure in order to host international sports competitions.

The chapter thematises colonialism as an ‘unseen’ and ‘long term’ catastrophe and focuses on the residue that Colonialism has caused, specifically global structural inequalities and race-based assumptions. Set against this backdrop, the chapter uses the lens of two international sport-for-development (SfD) partnerships between Global Northern (UK and USA) and Southern partners (Cameroon) to investigate how the lived experiences of SfD practitioners from Cameroon are influenced by international development discourse including their Global Northern INGO partner. Drawing on interviews with Indigenous Cameroonian SfD practitioners involved in the delivery of SfD programmes the chapter demonstrates that cultural views and norms of Cameroonian SfD practitioners (e.g race-based assumptions) are influenced by broader international development discourse and interactions with their Global Northern INGO partner. Local insights illuminate that the example of the catastrophe of colonialism remain, suggesting that long-term negative postcolonial residue is compounded by global structural inequalities and race-based assumptions that are apparent in the case study international SfD partnerships and day-to-day practices. Implications arising from this research are mainly for SfD INGOs, who fund SfD programmes in the GS and who typically hold the most powerful position within such partnerships.

http://www.guildhe.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/6710-Guild-HE-Active-Citizenship-Report-44pp.pdf

The chapter aims to demonstrate how hosting a mega sporting event can put a country in the spotlight and showcase all it has to offer and to sell the nation's brand. The use of nation branding is important for Cameroon on two fronts, firstly given the backdrop of civil unrest in Cameroon the tournament offered the opportunity to unite the nation. Secondly, hosting the AFCON was significant in relation to global nation branding which seeks to promote positive foreign public opinion of Cameroon.

Cameroon’s AFCON 2022 showed how mega sporting events can ignite fleeting national pride—but without inclusive, long-term reform, they risk deepening the divides they aim to heal.

Aim and Research Questions This presentation will provide a summary of the findings of an ongoing research project undertaken on behalf of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) which aims to analyse the key factors causing dropout of adult male players from the community game in England. It will share findings from a qualitative study undertaken in year two of the project with adult male players who had either reduced their playing time or stopped playing which aimed to: 1. Identify the main reasons for dropout 2. Understand how playing experiences impacted on player decisions to reduce or stop playing 3. Generate recommendations for the RFU to reduce dropout Theoretical Background and Literature Review The research draws upon the leisure constraints model developed by Crawford and Godby (1987) which identified structural (environmental), interpersonal and intrapersonal constraints. The model attempts to articulate how leisure activities fit into an individual’s life, with ‘constraints’ identified as reasons why an individual may not engage in a particular behaviour (Jackson, 1988) or decide to disengage (Samdahl and Jekubovich, 1997). Intrapersonal factors focus on the individual and their personal circumstances. Previous studies of adult dropout from sport identify enjoyment and interest, and family and time commitments as key factors particularly as participants age. Other studies (cf. Perry, 2013; Monteiro et al., 2017) identify perceptions of ongoing competency and ability as particularly significant. Interpersonal factors focus on the interactions and relationships between individuals (Samdahl and Jekubovich, 1997); in this study, the relationship between the player and teammates or others within the club environment. Research in this area highlights the importance of team dynamics and club culture with these factors linked to the sense of belonging a player may feel (cf. Jenkins et al., 2018). Finally, structural factors are taken to refer to the broader rugby environment. Within this category, studies highlight the influence of training and game demands (Larson et al., 2018) and appropriate levels of competition (Lim et al., 2011), whilst specific research into rugby union by Oliver et al. (2022) suggest that fears around concussion are increasingly influential on decisions to dropout. Research Design, Methodology and Data Analysis 25 qualitative semi-structured interviews were undertaken with adult male players aged between 23 and 65 years from within the community game in England. All players had played at Level 8 or below on the RFU’s community game structure (these are the lowest levels of competitive rugby union). Data from the interviews was thematically coded using the leisure constraints model as an initial framework, applying a template analysis (King, 2012) approach to thematic analysis. Sub-themes were developed within each main category. Each researcher individually coded their own interviews according to this framework. Following the initial coding, the team met to discuss and review each theme collaboratively, to sense-check interpretations of the data and ensure consistency across the coding process. Results/Findings and Discussion Findings were structured against the three categories within the leisure constraints model. Inline with Crawford, Jackson and Godbey’s (1991) revision of the leisure constraints model as a single integrated model rather than three discrete categories, the research identified that factors across the three categories were often interlinked and thus a combination of reasons served to trigger dropout. For example, some participants cited multiple factors such as injury, perceived reductions in competency and shifting club cultures as pre-empting their decisions to stop playing. The data also strongly highlighted the importance of player development – with this being central to enjoyment and playing longevity – many participants cited that they felt unable to improve their playing ability further – this becoming a source of frustration and ultimately a reason to stop playing. Finally, in relation to the broader rugby environment, the competition structure was identified as a key barrier particularly at Level 8 and below. Frequent match cancellations, long-travelling times to away games, and unpredictable levels of competition were highlighted as significant influences on decisions to dropout or be more selective about which matches to play in (this reducing their playing time). Conclusion, Contribution, and Implication Key recommendations for the RFU included creating welcoming club environments that focus equally on all teams and have a strong social offer, the provision of more position-specific coaching for players, and finding ways to fit rugby more flexibly into players lives for example by considering ‘pay and play’ offers. The popularity of activities like Hyrox, Padel, CrossFit, and Parkrun shows a growing demand for accessible, time-efficient sporting experiences — a trend rugby need to learn from and adapt to. Findings will be used by the RFU to inform future interventions within the community game. They will also inform year three of the broader research project – helping to focus additional research and evidence gathering. The findings are also relevant to other sport federations whose ambitions are to strengthen their participation base and improve player retention.

This chapter explores the relationship between sports development and social justice, focusing on community sports development policy and practice within the UK. Social justice is conceptualised as the equitable distribution of resources and opportunities, while sports development is framed in the chapter as the intentional use of sport to address societal inequalities and injustices. Despite persistent systemic barriers, sport is often heralded as a tool for promoting inclusion, reducing inequalities, and empowering communities. The chapter critiques these assumptions and highlights the complexities of achieving social justice through sport. Using StreetGames as a case study, four best-practice principles are proposed: emphasising place-based strategies, prioritising community development approaches, adopting holistic, joined-up methods to understand and tackle social inequalities, and prioritising robust monitoring and evaluation. These principles challenge traditional top-down methodologies, advocating for sustainable, community sports development programmes that address root causes of injustice. While sport holds potential as a catalyst for systemic change, achieving genuine social justice requires the sector to work holistically to align sports development with broader societal reforms.