Research Article
The Development Challenges of English Sevens Rugby in China: A Multidimensional Analysis Based on the Project's Essential Attributes
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
37-43
Received:
2 September 2026
Accepted:
11 September 2026
Published:
27 September 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajss.20261403.11
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Abstract: Since becoming an official Olympic event in 2009, seven-a-side rugby has achieved unprecedented development opportunities worldwide. As a staunch executor of Olympic strategy, China has invested substantial resources in this sport, with the women's team securing a historic sixth-place finish at the Paris Olympics. However, this achievement has not altered the fundamental landscape of seven-a-side rugby being a "niche sport" in China. This paper constructs a three-dimensional analytical framework-"sporting characteristics-system compatibility-cultural soil"-based on the intrinsic attributes of seven-a-side rugby to systematically examine the deep-seated challenges in its development within China. Research reveals a structural mismatch between the sport's high-intensity, fast-paced, and high-contact nature and China's state-led talent cultivation model in competitive sports. Its Western-originated, physically confrontational cultural DNA also creates a cognitive gap with traditional Chinese body concepts and athletic aesthetics. Additionally, its reliance on campus promotion and grassroots club development conflicts with China's institutional inertia of concentrating sports resources in Olympic-dominant events. The convergence of these three tensions forms the structural root cause behind seven-a-side rugby's "over a decade post-Olympic inclusion yet still struggling for widespread adoption" in China. The study proposes that overcoming this predicament requires transcending the "Olympic-driven" singular development logic, returning to the sport's intrinsic attributes, and establishing a tripartite collaborative development path encompassing "campus promotion-social engagement-elite competition."
Abstract: Since becoming an official Olympic event in 2009, seven-a-side rugby has achieved unprecedented development opportunities worldwide. As a staunch executor of Olympic strategy, China has invested substantial resources in this sport, with the women's team securing a historic sixth-place finish at the Paris Olympics. However, this achievement has not ...
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Research Article
Perceived Myths and Truths About Women's Participation in Sports and Their Effects on Participation Levels in Sierra Leone
Issue:
Volume 14, Issue 3, September 2026
Pages:
44-54
Received:
30 August 2026
Accepted:
11 September 2026
Published:
30 September 2026
Abstract: Background: Perceived myths about women's participation in sports remain a significant barrier to gender equity in athletic engagement, particularly in sub-Saharan African contexts. This study investigated the perceived myths and truths about women's participation in sports and assessed their effects on participation levels in Bo and Kenema cities, Sierra Leone. Methods: A descriptive survey research design with mixed-methods approach was adopted. A total sample of 350 respondents was drawn using simple random sampling from female athletes (n = 280), coaches (n = 50), and parents (n = 20) in Bo and Kenema cities. Structured questionnaires and semi-structured interview guides were used for data collection. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 26, employing descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) and inferential statistics including one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient. Qualitative data were analysed using Thematic Content Analysis. Instrument reliability was established at Pearson's r = 0.82 (test-retest) and Cronbach's α = 0.79. Results: Findings revealed that 88.2% (n = 149) of athlete respondents confirmed the existence of perceived myths about women in sports. The most prevalent myths included the belief that sports cause barrenness (18.6%), loss of femininity/masculinization (17.1%), disruption of the menstrual cycle (17.1%), and loss of virginity (11.4%). One-way ANOVA revealed a significant difference in myth belief across age groups [F(3, 165) = 8.461, p < 0.001], with younger athletes (10-26 years) exhibiting higher myth adherence (92.0%-94.5%) compared to older athletes (26-34 years: 78.6%; 34-42 years: 25.0%). A significant positive correlation was found between myth belief and reduced participation levels (r = 0.226, t = 2.945, p < 0.01). Gender-based discrimination was experienced by 81.7% of respondents. Cultural norms were identified as playing a major role in perpetuating myths by 55.0% of respondents, with cultural norms significantly correlated with media coverage perceptions (r = 0.364, t = 5.051, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Perceived myths significantly hinder women's sports participation in Bo and Kenema cities through reinforcement of gender stereotypes, social stigma, and reduced institutional support. Evidence-based myth-busting campaigns, female role model visibility, and gender-sensitive sports policies are urgently needed to improve participation levels.
Abstract: Background: Perceived myths about women's participation in sports remain a significant barrier to gender equity in athletic engagement, particularly in sub-Saharan African contexts. This study investigated the perceived myths and truths about women's participation in sports and assessed their effects on participation levels in Bo and Kenema cities,...
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,
Alpha Bassie Mansaray
