Heroes at Home, Suspects Abroad? National and International Perceptions of Elite-Sports Success

Click name to view affiliation

Jan Haut Goethe University Frankfurt/Main

Search for other papers by Jan Haut in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
,
Freya Gassmann Saarland University

Search for other papers by Freya Gassmann in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
,
Eike Emrich Saarland University

Search for other papers by Eike Emrich in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
,
Tim Meyer Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg

Search for other papers by Tim Meyer in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
, and
Christian Pierdzioch Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg

Search for other papers by Christian Pierdzioch in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed Close
*
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2018-0157
First Published Online:
18 Oct 2019
In Print:
Volume 37: Issue 2
Page Range:
133–142
Restricted access

It is often claimed that elite sport success increases national pride as well as the international prestige of a country. To scrutinize this broad-shed assumption, we draw on data from an online survey carried out around the Rio 2016 Olympics, including questions on success, national identity and attitudes towards other countries and athletes. Exploratory analyses of open questions reveal that successful athletes celebrated at home are often ignored abroad. A country’s international image is rather shaped by negative perceptions regarding doping or unfairness. Statistical analyses of standardized questions support previous findings on the reception of sport events, such as the strong connection of national pride and desire for elite sport success. However, there is also strong indication for shared international standards of sportsmanship.

Haut is with the Department of Sports Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt/Main, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Gassmann and Emrich are with the Department of Sports Sciences, Saarland University, Germany. Meyer and Pierdzioch are with the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences, Helmut Schmidt University Hamburg, Germany.

Address author correspondence to Jan Haut at haut@sport.uni-frankfurt.de.
  • Collapse
  • Expand
Cover Sociology of Sport Journal

  • Allison, L., & Monnington, T. (2002). Sport, prestige and international relations. Government and Opposition, 37(1), 106–134. doi:10.1111/1477-7053.00089

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Anderson, B. (2006). Imagined communities: Reflections on the origin and spread of nationalism (Revised ed.). London, New York: Verso.

  • Angelini, J.R., MacArthur, P.J., Smith, L.R., & Billings, A.C. (2017). Nationalism in the United States and Canadian primetime broadcast coverage of the 2014 Winter Olympics. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 52(7), 779–800. doi:10.1177/1012690215619205

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bairner, A. (2015). Assessing the sociology of sport: On national identity and nationalism. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 50(4–5), 375–379. doi:10.1177/1012690214538863

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Bie, B., & Billings, A.C. (2015). “Too good to be true?” US and Chinese media coverage of Chinese swimmer Ye Shiwen in the 2012 Olympic Games. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 50(7), 785–803. doi:10.1177/1012690213495746

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Billig, M. (1995). Banal nationalism. London, UK: Sage.

  • Billings, A.C., Angelini, J.R., MacArthur, P.J., Smith, L.R., & Vincent, J. (2014). Fanfare for the American: NBC’s Prime-Time Broadcast of the 2012 London Olympiad. Electronic News, 8(2), 101–119. doi:10.1177/1931243114546447

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Billings, A.C., Scott, O.K.M., Brown, K.A., Lewis, M., & Devlin, M.B. (2017). The patriotism down under: Nationalized qualities and Australian media consumption of the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. International Review for the Sociology of Sport. Advance online publication. doi:10.1177/1012690217717945

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Breuer, C., Hallmann, K., & Ilgner, M. (2017). Akzeptanz des Spitzensports in Deutschland: Zum Wandel der Wahrnehmung durch Bevölkerung und Athleten [Acceptance of top-level sport in Germany: On the changing perception by population and athletes]. Koeln, Germany: Strauss.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Brown, K.A., Billings, A.C., Schallhorn, C., Schramm, H., & Devlin, N.A. (2016). Power within the Olympic rings? Nationalism, Olympic media consumption, and comparative cases in Germany and the United States. Journal of International Communication, 22(1), 143–169. doi:10.1080/13216597.2015.1106961

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Campbell, R.M., Aiken, D., & Kent, A. (2004). Beyond BIRGing and CORFing: Continuing the Exploration of Fan Behavior. Sport Marketing Quarterly, 13(3), 151–157.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chalip, L.B., Green, C., Taks, M., & Misener, L. (2016). Creating sport participation from sport events: making it happen. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 9(2), 257–276. doi:10.1080/19406940.2016.1257496

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Chen, H. (2012). Medals, media and myth of national images: How Chinese audiences thought of foreign countries during the Beijing Olympics. Public Relations Review, 38(5), 755–764. doi:10.1016/j.pubrev.2012.08.002

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Collins, R. (2004). Interaction ritual chains. Princeton, NJ: University Press.

  • Cottingham, M.D. (2012). Interaction ritual theory and sports fans: Emotion, symbols, and solidarity. Sociology of Sport Journal, 29(2), 168–185.

  • Dunning, E. (1986[1979]). The dynamics of modern sport: notes on achievement-striving and the social significance of sport. In N. Elias & E. Dunning (Eds.), Quest for excitement: Sport and leisure in the civilizing process (pp. 205–223). Oxford; Cambridge, MA: Blackwell.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Durkheim, E. (1995[1912]). The elementary forms of religious life. New York, NY: Free Press.

  • Elias, N., & Scotson, J. (2008[1965]). The Established and the Outsiders. The Collected Works of Norbert Elias (vol. 8). Dublin, Ireland: UCD Press.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Elling, A., van Hilvoorde, I., & van den Dool, R. (2014). Creating or awakening national pride through sporting success: A longitudinal study on macro effects in the Netherlands. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 49(2), 129–151. doi:10.1177/1012690212455961

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Emrich, E., Gassmann, F., Haut, J., Pierdzioch, C., & Prohl, R. (2015). Medaillen für die nationale Repräsentanz? Zur Bedeutung von Medaillenerfolgen bei Olympischen Spielen [Medals for national representation? On the meaning of medal success at Olympic Games]. Sport und Gesellschaft, 12(1), 39–67. doi:10.1515/sug-2015-0103

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Emrich, E., Gassmann, F., Meyer, T., & Pierdzioch, C. (2018). Was darf es kosten? Zur Zahlungsbereitschaft für olympische Medaillen und zur Finanzierung des deutschen Spitzensports. [What can it cost? For the willingness to pay for Olympic medals and on the financing of German top sports]. Vorgänge. Zeitschrift für Bürgerrechte und Gesellschaftspolitik, 57(3), 75–92.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gassmann, F., Emrich, E., Pierdzioch, C., & Meyer, T. (2018). Nachhaltigkeit, Menschenrechte und Transparenz für Olympische Spiele - Wunsch und Wirklichkeit im Spiegel neuer Umfrageergebnisse. In Nowak, G. (Ed.), Regionalentwicklung des Sports (pp. 323–340). Schorndorf, Germany: Hofmann.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Gassmann, F., Meyer, T., Emrich, E., & Pierdzioch, C. (2019). Zur Zahlungsbereitschaft für nationale sportliche Erfolge: Forschungsstand und Forschungsperspektiven. [On willingness to pay for national sporting achievements: state of research and research perspectives]. In A. Güllich & M. Krüger (Eds.), Sport in Kultur und Gesellschaft. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Grix, J., & Brannagan, P.M. (2016). Of mechanisms and myths: Conceptualizing states’ ‘soft power’ strategies through sports mega-events. Diplomacy and Statecraft, 27(2), 251–272. doi:10.1080/09592296.2016.1169791

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Grix, J., Brannagan, P.M., Wood, H., & Wynne, C. (2017). State Strategies for Leveraging Sports Mega-Events: unpacking the concept of ‘legacy’. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 9(2), 203–218. doi:10.1080/19406940.2017.1316761

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Grix, J., & Carmichael, F. (2012). Why do governments invest in elite sports? A polemic. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 4(1), 73–90. doi:10.1080/19406940.2011.627358

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Grix, J., & Kramareva, N. (2015). The Sochi Winter Olympics and Russia’s unique soft power strategy. Sport in Society, 20(4), 461–475. doi:10.1080/17430437.2015.1100890

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hallmann, K., Breuer, C., & Kühnreich, F. (2013). Happiness, pride and elite sporting success: What population segments gain most from national athletic achievements? Sport Management Review, 16(2), 226–235. doi:10.1016/j.smr.2012.07.001

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hargreaves, J. (1992). Olympism and Nationalism: Some Preliminary Consideration. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 27(2), 119–135. doi:10.1177/101269029202700203

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Haut, J. (2014). Gesellschaftliche Funktionen des olympischen Leistungssports [Social functions of Olympic elite sport]. In J. Haut (Ed.), Leistungssport als Konkurrenz der Nationen (pp. 45–67). Saarbruecken, Germany: Universaar.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Haut, J., & Gaum, C. (2018). Does elite success trigger mass participation in table tennis? An analysis of trickle-down effects in Germany, France and Austria. Journal of Sports Sciences, 36(23), 2760–2767. doi:10.1080/02640414.2017.1361895

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Haut, J., Grix, J., Brannagan, P., & Van Hilvoorde, I. (2017). International Prestige through ‘Sporting Success’: an evaluation of the evidence. European Journal for Sport and Society, 14(4), 311–326. doi:10.1080/16138171.2017.1421502

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Haut, J., Prohl, R., & Emrich, E. (2016). Nothing but Medals? Attitudes towards the Importance of Olympic Success. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 51(3), 332–348. doi:10.1177/1012690214526400

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Hobsbawm, E.J. (1990). Nations and Nationalism Since 1780: Programme, Myth, Reality (2nd ed.). Cambridge, UK: University Press.

  • Hong, S.C., & Oh, K.S. (2017). Determinants of sports coverage: Newsworthiness in US media coverage of foreign athletes during the London 2012 Olympic Games. Journalism. Advance online publication. doi:10.1177/1464884917699034

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Humphreys, B.R., Johnson, B.K., Mason, D.S., & Whitehead, J.C. (2016). Estimating the Value of Medal Success in the Olympic Games. Journal of Sport Economics, 19(3), 398–416. doi:10.1177/1527002515626221

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Kavetsos, G. (2012). National Pride: War minus the shooting. Social Indicators Research, 106(1), 173–185. doi:10.1007/s11205-011-9801-1

  • Kavetsos, G., & Szymanski, S. (2010). National well-being and international sports events. Journal of Economic Psychology, 31(2), 158–171. doi:10.1016/j.joep.2009.11.005

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Leite Júnior, E.F., & Rodrigues, C. (2017). The Chinese football development plan: Soft power and national identity. Holos, 33(5), 114–124. doi:10.15628/holos.2017.5750

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Luša, D. (2017). Olympic diplomacy and the emerging states: Striving for influence in the multipolar world. Croatian International Relations Review, 13(79), 73–102. doi:10.1515/cirr-2017-0015

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Maguire, J. (1994). Sport, identity politics, and globalization: diminishing contrasts and increasing varieties. Sociology of Sport Journal, 11(4), 398–427. doi:10.1123/ssj.11.4.398

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Meier, H.E., & Mutz, M. (2018). Political regimes and sport-related national pride: a cross-national analysis. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics. Advanced online publication. doi:10.1080/19406940.2018.1447498

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mutz, M. (2018). Life Satisfaction and the UEFA EURO 2016: Findings from a Nation-Wide Longitudinal Study in Germany. Applied Research in Quality of Life. Advanced online publication. doi:10.1007/s11482-018-9599-y

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Mutz, M., & Gerke, M. (2018). Major sporting events and national identification: the moderating effect of emotional involvement and the role of the media. Communication & Sport, 6, 605–626.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Nygard, H.M., & Gates, S. (2013). Soft power at home and abroad: Sport diplomacy, politics and peace-building. International Area Studies Review, 16(3), 235–243. doi:10.1177/2233865913502971

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Pawlowski, T., Downward, P., & Rasciute, S. (2014). Does national pride from international sporting success contribute to well-being? An international investigation. Sport Management Review, 17(2), 121–132. doi:10.1016/j.smr.2013.06.007

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Preuss, H. (2015). A framework for identifying the legacies of a mega sport event. Leisure Studies, 34(6), 643–664. doi:10.1080/02614367.2014.994552

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Reicher, D. (2013). Nationensport und Mediennation. Zur Transformation von Nation und Nationalismus im Zeitalter elektronischer Massenmedien [Nations’ sport and media nation. On the transformation of nation and nationalism in the age of electronic mass media]. Goettingen, Germany: V and R unipress.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rhamey, J.P., & Early, B.R. (2013). Going for the gold: Status-seeking behavior and Olympic performance. International Area Studies Review, 16(3), 244–261. doi:10.1177/2233865913499563

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Rofe, J.S., & Dichter, H.L. (2016). Prologue: Diplomacy and Sport. Diplomacy & Statecraft, 27(2), 207–211. doi:10.1080/09592296.2016.1169780

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Schallhorn, C., Beck, C. (2017). „Unsere Jungs“ bei der EM. Eine ländervergleichende Studie zur Fotoberichterstattung bei der Fußballeuropameisterschaft 2016. [“Our boys” at the Euro. A comparative study on foto coverage at the European Football Chanpionship 2016]. Journal für Sportkommunikation und Mediensport, 2(2), 138–150.

    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Storm, R., Nielsen, C.G., & Jakobsen, T.G. (2018). Can international elite sport success trickle down to mass sport participation? Evidence from Danish team handball. European Journal of Sport Science. Advanced online publication. doi:10.1080/17461391.2018.1489000

    • Crossref
    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Tajfel, H., & Turner, J.C. (2004[1986]). The Social Identity Theory of Intergroup Behavior. In J.T. Jost & J. Sidanius (Eds.), Key readings in social psychology. Political psychology: Key readings (pp. 276–293). New York, NY: Psychology Press.

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Van Hilvoorde, I., Elling, A., & Stokvis, R. (2010). How to influence national pride? The Olympic medal index as a unifying narrative. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 45(1), 87–102. doi:10.1177/1012690209356989

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Von Scheve, C., Beyer, M., Ismer, S., Kozlowska, M., & Morawetz, C. (2014). Emotional entrainment, national symbols, and identification: A naturalistic study around the Men’s football world cup. Current Sociology, 62(1), 3–23. doi:10.1177/0011392113507463

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Weed, M., Coren, E., Fiore, J., Wellard, I., Chatziefstathiou, D., Mansfield, L., & Dowse, S. (2015). The Olympic Games and raising sport participation: a systematic review of evidence and an interrogation of policy for a demonstration effect. European Sport Management Quarterly, 15(2), 195–226. doi:10.1080/16184742.2014.998695

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

  • Wicker, P., Prinz, J., & von Hanau, T. (2012). Estimating the value of national sporting success. Sport Management Review, 15(2), 200–210. doi:10.1016/j.smr.2011.08.007

    • Crossref
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
All Time Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 2364 445 66
Full Text Views 182 53 0
PDF Downloads 118 21 1