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This book explores Icelandic cultural capital as a factor in sporting success, from traditions of workmanship, play and teamwork to international migration. The first study to focus specifically on the cultural aspects of a small nation's international sporting success, this is an original and illuminating contribution to the sociology of sport.
List of contents
Preface: "The general within the particular" Part I: Setting the Scene 1. Introduction: "Small" teams and "big" results 2. From Nature and Nurture, to Culture: Theoretical basis and methods 3. Sport in Iceland: History, culture and organization Part II: How Icelandic Sports Progressed 4. Building the Infrastructure: Towards professionalism 5. New Conditions, New Generations, New heights Part III: How Icelanders Play Sport 6. The Icelandic "Madness": Winning the character contest 7. Teamwork: Playing your own game Part IV: How Culture Affects Sport 8. The Value of Play 9. The Advantages of Small Populations Part V: How It All Comes Together 10. Conclusion Appendix
About the author
Vidar Halldorsson is an assistant professor in sociology at the University of Iceland
Summary
This book explores Icelandic cultural capital as a factor in sporting success, from traditions of workmanship, play and teamwork to international migration. The first study to focus specifically on the cultural aspects of a small nation’s international sporting success, this is an original and illuminating contribution to the sociology of sport.
Additional text
"In general, the book sheds an informative light on the Icelandic sports system and Icelandic culture as explanations for sporting success ... All in all, the book is well written and insightful, hence it is warmly recommended." - Eivind Å. Skille, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences
"A timely investigation of an alternative state model of sport … Halldorsson effectively situates Iceland’s sporting achievements within the country’s distinct cultural and social context. His assertions regarding the importance of sociocultural context for elite performance have the potential to encourage further research attention to this topic. As one of a diminishing number of countries willing to maintain a widespread and publicly supported community sporting structure, Iceland provides a successful model of sport for its own intrinsic values." - Daniel Eisenkraft Klein, University of Toronto, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics
