Sport in Society

Authenticity vs. simulacra in sport in the light of ‘sport in transition’

As a prompt observation (in Spring 2025), questions regarding ‘authenticity in sport’ have mainly - and rather randomly and unconnectedly – dealt with e.g. athletes’ experiences during performance, the morality in doubtful enhancement devices, cyberathletes, motives in adventure and lifestyle sport, the blend of cultural and sport event, or the transition of work skills to sport. But rather unexpectedly, studies related explicitly to authenticity in sport are not as frequent as one might assume. Hence, systematically inquiries seem to be scarce albeit the subjects’ significance, as well as academic challenges. Nonetheless, there exists so many enters for sports scholars to handle the question of authenticity, theoretically as well as empirically, in a substantial and challenging manner. For instance, the strive to improve results and records, training methods, as well as sport contests, in contemporary society, have become increasingly dependent on technical development, and thus, on tools and equipment. These technical innovations can be observed in athletes’ equipment from smoother running shoes and wet suits to fiberglass poles and carbon fibre bikes, as well as contests in ‘virtual reality.’ In addition, the urbanization of society has also affected the progress of sport and its current settings. Today we find sport in the cities that regularly have been held in the nature or in rural areas. In the prolongation, the spaces in which sport take place have gradually altered to become indoor activities, i.e. ‘the indoorization of sport’. Accordingly, will the progress of novel sports and rational training methods, as well as the alteration and adaption of traditional and contemporary sports, change our understanding and feelings for sport, regarding the virtue of ‘authenticity.’ On top, what is an authentic sport’s experiences, and has it, or will its ‘phenomenology’ change in contemporary society, due to the commercialisation and the eventification of sport?

Theoretically, ‘authenticity’ has in general been expressed broadly through form and design, the use and functions, or traditions and techniques as well as the location and setting, and thus, regarded and valued in accordance with i.e., genuineness, realism or uniqueness as well as the faithfulness to the craft, art or skills. Hence, there are several philosophers in the history, from Plato and Nietzsche to Kierkegaard, Heidegger, and Sartre, who have discussed the possibility to face authenticity, in relation to mundane experiences, religious life, cultural events or, in general, being true to human life or the self. In this matter, and very early, e.g. the Frankfurt School, in addition to their major political concerns, worried about the deterioration of culture, and thus, the distortions of authentic life and aesthetic values in modern society. In consequence, Horkheimer and Adorno, analysed the decay of culture and civilisation in Western societies and found it hard to cope with the wide-ranging industrialization and vulgarization of culture, due to the mass psychosis, the propaganda industry, the mass culture and the entertainment industry. In addition, subsequent concepts in sociology and cultural studies, like ‘McDonaldization,’ ‘Hollywoodization,’ and ‘Disneyization,’ have later added judgements to this general concern and cultural criticism. Consequently, in a culture of mass-production, standardization and unification, the fulfilment of authenticity becomes harder or even, practically, unattainable… Or, not? Or, alternatively, it stands as an obsolete concern, in sport as well as in society in general. Evidently, Baudrillard adds substance to this reasoning by the concept of ‘simulacra,’ and thus, his radical thesis that our reproductions of reality (‘virtual reality’), due to that technologic development, paradoxically, today could be comprehended and handled as more real, than reality. In this respect, sport stand as perfect arena - and subject - to demonstrate and analyse this complexity, and thus, the intrinsic dialectics of authenticity and simulacra. 

Accordingly, this CfP would like to use our sketchy diagnosis of ‘sport in transition’ to invite original and critical contributions that will deal, notably, with this challenging and difficult subject. Thus, the submissions can be related to: 1) athletes’ experiences of ‘authenticity,’ 2) new sport’s phenomenology in relation to values in traditional sports, 3) decontextualisation of sports, 4) the sportification of crafts and skills, 5) the marketing of sports due to values, 6) the commercialisation and the eventification of sport, 7) supporter culture, 8) nature vs. equipment, 9) the reasons of consuming current sports, 10) the characters in sport representations and virtual sports, and (11) the search for ultimate physical tests/difficulties. 

To emphasis, the focus – i.e., the quest for, the test of, or the conceptualization of ‘authenticity’ in sport (vs. e.g., simulacra) - must be targeted and/or challenged in, and by all these possible subjects.