Sport, National Identities and the Media : Battling Brits (Routledge Focus on Sport, Culture and Society)

This book examines the relationship between sport, the media, and national identities in Great Britain. It draws upon case studies of different sporting events and stories, looking at the ways in which the media (re)present different narratives of the nation(s). It focuses on the intersections between different parts of Great Britain, such as matches between two British nations within international football competitions. It also explores contested claims for national sporting glory through the achievements of individual athletes and teams. From Andy Murray’s success in tennis, to the portrayal of Team GB athletes born outside of the United Kingdom, the book shines new light on ongoing debates about the perceived fragility of the United Kingdom and the place of Great Britain and its constituent parts within a post-Brexit Europe. In looking at the prestigious Sports Personality of the Year award, it considers how and where discourses of the nation intersect and what this can tell us about the significance of social issues such as gender and racial equality in sport and in wider society. This is fascinating reading for anybody with an interest in the sociology of sport, sport media, the politics of sport, cultural identities, nationalism, or media studies.