The Power of Play: Diversity and Inclusion in Sport

The study of sport as a social and cultural phenomenon has grown substantially, revealing complex systems where organizational design, policy, and cultural context interact to shape participation and development. Despite progress in addressing gender and cultural disparities, inequities persist in how resources, opportunities, and support are distributed among athletes and other stakeholders—often reflecting broader societal patterns of marginalization. A significant body of research in recent years has examined issues such as gender policy, safeguarding, and athlete wellbeing, while highlighting persistent barriers for LGBTQ+ participants and culturally diverse groups. However, debates continue regarding the effectiveness of top-down policies versus community-driven approaches, the adequacy of existing safeguarding measures, and the capacity of sport systems to foster genuine inclusion. There remains a need for evidence that not only critiques entrenched inequities but also elucidates mechanisms for change and tracks the outcomes of inclusion efforts over time.This Research Topic aims to move beyond diagnoses of bias by interrogating the underlying structures and processes that facilitate or impede equitable practice in sport. We seek to illuminate how diverse actors—ranging from athletes to administrators—navigate, influence, and reconfigure organizational norms and governance models to advance inclusion and wellbeing. Contributions should explore practical enactments of inclusion, such as eligibility criteria, safeguarding protocols, funding strategies, and culturally responsive coaching, while critically evaluating their impact on both systems and individuals. In particular, we encourage research that integrates psychosocial, physiological, and organizational data, leverages new measurement frameworks and participatory methods, and foregrounds athlete and community voices. By connecting these strands, the goal is to generate actionable insights and robust metrics for fostering sustainable organizational change in sport.This Research Topic encompasses studies that examine the practical boundaries, drivers, and outcomes of inclusion across multiple levels and contexts within sport systems, while also clarifying the limitations inherent in current approaches. We are especially interested in research that interrogates not only the existence but the effectiveness of organizational and policy interventions. To gather further insights in this area, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Mechanisms of participation, eligibility, and safeguarding for diverse gender identities and cultural groups• Evaluation of funding models, accountability, and resource distribution in sport organizations• Inclusion experiences and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ athletes, coaches, and staff• The role of sport in fostering social inclusion, health, and youth development within diverse communities• Cultural variability in training, coaching, and the meanings ascribed to sport• Media, sponsorship, and fan cultures as influencers of sport priorities and inclusion• Analytical frameworks for policy enactment, fidelity, and anti-discrimination in sport contexts• Intersectional analyses examining race, ethnicity, disability, migration, and class in relation to sport participation and organizational change• Innovative measurement tools, data standards, and research methods for tracking systematic change Topic editors: Jolita Vveinhardt, Rohini Balram, Ekaterina Glebova Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/75836/the-power-of-play-diversity-and-inclusion-in-sport