ISSP position stand: Transnationalism, mobility, and acculturation in and through sport

Abstract

The historically unprecedented pace of internationalising sport industry and transnational movement of athletic talent in the last 20 years has heightened the need for developing new competencies in research and daily practice of sport psychology professionals. While academic literature in cultural sport psychology and praxis has been increasing, sport professionals and local organisations seem to give scant time and resources to stay abreast of complex social changes in transnational industry and to the development of cultural competencies. Stemming from the continuing need for qualified athletic personnel to support transitioning athletes and to achieve intercultural effectiveness in daily practices, our objectives in this position statement are to critically review and analyse the growing scholarship pertinent to various forms of transnational mobility and acculturation of athletic migrants, and subsequently provide recommendations for further use in research and applied contexts.

Keywords:

• migrant athletes
• transnational mobility
• cultural transition
• critical acculturation
• integration

ORCID

Tatiana V. Ryba http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3218-4938

Natalia Stambulova http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6198-0784

Anne-Marie Elbe http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8392-2451