World Leisure Journal

Call for Abstracts for our #interdisciplinary Special Issue “Of Borders, Borderlands, and Crossings: The Poetics and Politics of Leisure at/from the Edge(s)" on the World Leisure Journal (deadline 30th April 2025). Key Themes: - Leisure in/through/across borderlands - Displacement, disablement, and leisure - Queering leisure and (forced) migration - Leisure, settler colonialism, and Indigenous sovereignties - Participatory leisure research and global inequalities - Crip, decolonial, and more-than-human leisure perspectives - Leisure affects and embodiment(s) beyond Western-centric genealogies. - What is the purpose and what are the potentialities of Leisure Studies amidst Genocide, Ecocide, Urbicide? Timeline for Abstract Submission (300 words): 30 April 2025 We encourage submissions in multiple languages, and in particular from Global majority voices/ contexts and from community activists, artists, and practitioners. For more information and submissions visit: https://lnkd.in/eicyQUtu Any questions please get in touch with me, Robyn Smith, Sepand Mashreghi, Shemine Gulamhusein & Aarti Ratna (guest editors).

The World Leisure Journal just published this fascinating paper and I would say it is a call for us to reflect about the origin of some of our leisure facilities in UK. The role of slave trade wealth in creating Liverpool’s park system https://lnkd.in/ecNB6-pT The paper’s two objectives were to identify the extent to which wealth emanating from the slave trade (i) influenced the creation of Liverpool’s parks; and (ii) was influenced by “corporate social responsibility” and/or “conscience laundering” in transitioning slavers’ private estates into public parks. Slavery was the source of Liverpool’s great wealth in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The lack of enabling legislation for parks to provide “breathing open spaces” meant that 10 of the foundational parks in the city’s much admired modern park system evolved from private parks created or purchased by wealthy slavers. However, there was no evidence that the transition of those parks into the public realm reflected any sense of “corporate social responsibility” by the slavers of the city. The conundrums associated with relationships between the evils of slavery and the creation of public parks are most explicit in the creation of Princes Park, which was intended to be a philanthropic, but self-sufficient, public park created by Richard Yates. The Yates family’s interactions with the slave trade were convoluted and their complexity provides an exemplar for better understanding of the slavers’, and parks advocates’, ostensible ambivalence to the slave trade. #Slavery #Parks #Leisure #Liverpool

Hello, network! I don't post here very often, but this is a special (and very LinkedIn-worthy) occasion! So, I'm happy to share that last Friday I had my first journal article published! The paper "Enhancing the experience? Exploring the impact of augmented reality on staged performances" is now available in the World Leisure Journal. This paper is part of my PhD research, in which I'm investigating how immersive technologies - such as augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) - impact event and leisure experiences. In this particular study, we examined how AR influences audience emotions during contemporary dance performances, comparing live events with at-home viewing. To capture audience reactions, we combined physiological measures (skin conductance) with self-reports. Here's what we found: - Attending live performances resulted in stronger emotional reactions compared to watching from home; - AR can boost emotional reactions, especially at specific, well-designed moments of the performance; - Surprisingly, people generally enjoyed the performances more without AR, suggesting that AR content needs to be seamlessly integrated to enhance, rather than distract from, the experience. A huge thank you to my co-authors Dr. Ondrej Mitas, Wilco Boode, Marnix van Gisbergen, Greg Richards, and Marcel Bastiaansen for their valuable collaboration, and to the reviewers for their thoughtful feedback and expertise, which greatly improved our manuscript. I know I've spoiled some of the key findings, but there are still plenty of cool graphs, stats, and insights waiting for you in the full article! You can read it here: https://lnkd.in/dq6TUCGP Breda University of Applied Sciences Leisure & Events | Breda University of Applied Sciences

🌲 Today we are celebrating International Day of Forests! 🌲 #Forests are not just landscapes—they are shared spaces where humans and non-human #animals interact in meaningful ways. How do these encounters shape the atmosphere of forest bathing? Explore this fascinating perspective in the free-access article, "Non-human animals in forest bathing: an atmospheric perspective," by Yiqin Zhang, Hirofumi Ueda & Mengde Wang, available in World Leisure Journal. Gain insights into the role of animals in immersive nature experiences and the impact of multi-species interactions in recreational spaces. 📖 Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gKXk2WGp 🌲 ¡Hoy celebramos el Día Internacional de los Bosques! 🌲 Los #bosques no son solo paisajes, sino espacios compartidos donde los seres humanos y los #animales no humanos interactúan de manera significativa. ¿Cómo influyen estos encuentros en la atmósfera del baño de bosque? Descubre esta fascinante perspectiva en el artículo de acceso libre, "Non-human animals in forest bathing: an atmospheric perspective", de Yiqin Zhang, Hirofumi Ueda y Mengde Wang, disponible en World Leisure Journal. Para saber más sobre el papel de los animales en las experiencias inmersivas en la naturaleza y el impacto de las interacciones multiespecies en los espacios recreativos lee el artículo completo aquí: https://lnkd.in/gKXk2WGp #InternationalDayOfForests #DíaInternacionalDeLosBosques #nature #naturaleza #leisure #leisurestudies #ocio #academia #research #investigacion #recreation #outdoors

New episode on the #LeisureSociety podcast: A conversation with Professor Heike Schänzel from AUT in New Zealand - ‘Leisure and the Missing Voices’ https://lnkd.in/ei9HSnKA   The Leisure Society Podcast is an initiative from the Editors of the following journals: Leisure Studies Journal, Leisure Sciences, World Leisure Journal, Journal of Leisure Research, Annals of Leisure Research, Leisure/Loisir, International Journal of the Sociology of Leisure, and Schole: a Journal of Leisure Studies and Recreation Education Australian and New Zealand Association for Leisure Studies (ANZALS) World Leisure Organization The Academy of Leisure Sciences Leisure Studies Rasul Mowatt Belinda Wheaton Louise Mansfield Adele Doran Thomas Fletcher Kate Dashper Kindal Shores Karl Spracklen Arianne Reis Andrew Adams

Making an original contribution to the leisure literature: what does this look like? A very interesting Editorial piece by Adele Doran To make an original contribution to knowledge, a manuscript must provide original...... https://lnkd.in/eB64wz4e #Research #Leisure #LeisureStudies #LeisureResearch #Contribution

🌏 Global South Paper of March! #Leisure is a powerful way to connect with nature, but in the Global South, balancing #recreation and #environmental #sustainability is a growing challenge. The Global South Paper of March—now available in free access—explores this in the research paper: "Fostering sustainable leisure activities: a behavioural insight into eco-friendly intentions in Mount Damavand" by Farhad Moghimehfar, shahram Aroufzad, Iman Zarei and Mohammad Ehsani. As hiker activity grows on Mount Damavand, the highest peak in the Middle East, so do environmental pressures. This study examines the barriers and motivations behind sustainable behaviour, offering insights on how leisure in the Global South can be both enjoyable and responsible. Read the full article in free access here: https://lnkd.in/g2c5pf7v Leisure plays a vital role in cultural identity, well-being, and sustainability. Yet, much of the research shaping global leisure policies and practices comes from the Global North. To create truly inclusive and sustainable leisure spaces, we need more voices from the Global South. How can we amplify research from the Global South to ensure a more equitable, sustainable leisure future? Join the conversation. #GlobalSouth #SustainableLeisure #LeisureResearch #EcoTourism World Leisure Organization #recreation #leisurestudies

🎗️ International Women’s Day: Amplifying #Women’s Voices in #Leisure and #Sport Leisure is more than just free time—it’s a space for #empowerment, self-expression, and #leadership. Yet, systemic #gender inequities continue to shape women’s experiences, especially in sport leadership roles. This #InternationalWomensDay, World Leisure Journal is happy to offer free access to the #research #article: "Sharing women's sport coaching journeys to the Canada Games through digital storytelling" by Sara Kramers & Corliss Bean. This study explores #digital #storytelling as an innovative way to elevate women's voices in sport and leisure research. By supporting women coaches in sharing their journeys, this method not only brings visibility to their experiences but also challenges traditional power structures that often silence or marginalize women in leadership. Read the full article in free access here: https://lnkd.in/gXRgGq2d ABSTRACT Digital storytelling is a participant-centred method used to illustrate personal narratives and artistic stories by creating a 2–5-minute video using photographs, artwork, voiceover, and/or video clips. This creative method aims to redistribute power between researchers and participants and amplify the voices of historically marginalized individuals, such as women in leadership positions. Within this article, we present digital storytelling as an innovative method for sharing women's stories in sport and leisure. While more women are occupying sports leadership positions, systemic gender inequities remain that impede women from thriving as sport coaches. Situated as part of a larger project that occurred at the Summer 2022 Canada Games, the process of supporting two women in telling their coaching journeys through digital storytelling is shared, including how the stories were conceptualized, designed, refined, and disseminated. Through two individual interviews, one-on-one meetings, and a virtual viewing party, the women's experiences of crafting their digital stories were captured. Insights are shared for utilizing digital storytelling to work with participants in telling their unheard stories, especially when working with individuals who are historically excluded and marginalized. Practical recommendations are provided for using the digital storytelling method alongside interviews within leisure and sport research. World Leisure Organization #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2025 #LeisureStudies #coach #coaching #equality

📢 New Opportunity! Introducing the Industry Case Studies Section in World Leisure Journal! We are excited to launch our brand-new Industry Case Studies section—a platform designed to bring real-world insights from the professional sector into the academic conversation. This initiative strengthens the connection between industry and academia, providing a space to showcase innovative, impactful, and inspirational practices across the leisure sector. 💡 What Are Industry Case Articles? Industry case articles highlight real-world cases in leisure, recreation, sports, tourism, arts, and culture, showcasing innovative strategies, organizations, or initiatives. These cases should provide empirical and analytical insights rather than serve as promotional content. 📌 Key Submission Guidelines: ✔ Real-world industry cases supported by data (e.g., visitor feedback, stakeholder interviews) and positioned in a broader societal or sectoral context ✔ Analytical approach addressing innovation, impact, challenges, and future trends ✔ Max. 5,000 words, with a structured format including an introduction, case description, analysis, and references ✔ No theoretical underpinning required, but empirical evidence and critical reflection are essential 📄 Ready to contribute? We invite industry professionals, organizations, and researchers to submit their case studies! Read the full guidelines and submit your paper here: https://lnkd.in/g8JEAp58 World Leisure Organization Sandro Carnicelli Paolo Mura Adam Doering Rasul Mowatt  Sreetheran Maruthaveeran Adele Doran Jorge Knijnik Trudie Walters Heike Schänzel Takamitsu Jimura Thaís Costa Onna Rageth Mandi Baker Darko Dimitrovski Elaine Scalabrini Dr. Suzy (Susan) Ross Dr. Louise Platt Jose Manuel Alvarez Seara Marco Van Leeuwen Brian KM Wong Marko Orel Guliz Coskun Kate Dashper Marco Valeri Atara Sivan Brianna Wyatt Bülent Gürbüz Cari Autry Chung-Shing Johnson Chan Ekaterina Chevtaeva, Ph.D. Fatima Bagheri Jingjing Yang Jordi Nofre Marcos A. Rodríguez-Negrón Marie Young Utsa Mukherjee Hyunseo (Violet) Yoon Dr Nicole Peel, PhD #leisure #LeisureIndustry #AcademicPublishing #industry #leisurestudies #research #recreation

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