Initially, as a scholastic horizon, the article reflects on general thesis/studies linked to sport participation and selection processes as well as in relation to talent identification and talent development. Yet, the basic departure - and the main subject - in the work is those elite athletes who, for some reason, ought to have been sorted out - due to various obstructions - but who have not been disregarded or ruled out in the general selection process, and in fact have had successes in elite sport, 'against all odds', notwithstanding cultural, physical, geographical and/or social difficulties and barriers. Thus, the article will revolve around issues related to differentness, whether what is considered different is of a social, cultural, physiological, or medical nature. Accordingly, discussions about normality and cultural hegemony stand as important elements in the approach, as well as in the analysis. This reasoning is, substantially, supported by interviews with four Swedish elite athletes, who have made a success on an elite level, 'against all odds'. By introducing the concept of 'the uncaptured' - as a balancing act at the edge of exclusion and inclusion - the analysis of these interviews results in a support of a wider and humanistic direction in talent identification and talent development, to encourage and support outsiders.

During the twenty-first century, the sport for development and peace (SDP) movement has emerged, which conceptualizes sport’s contribution to international development. As of today, there are hundreds of programs worldwide where sports are used to obtain different development and peace objectives. The SDP movement has subsequently turned into a recognized and legitimate component of the global development sector. In this respect, it has evolved into an institution, not least given the social construction of sport as a vehicle to bring about development and peace. In this article, two Scandinavian SDP programs serve as examples: LdB FC for Life in South Africa (sport and HIV/AIDS prevention) and Open Fun Football Schools in Moldova (sport and peace building). Drawing on a case study methodology, representatives (i.e., initiators, sponsors/donors and local personnel affiliated with the two programs) have been interviewed. Furthermore, observations in South Africa and Moldova have been made targeting the practical implementation of each endeavor. Finally, websites and additional written documentation about current programs have been analyzed to see if the proclaimed objectives match the practical outcome. Consequently, the aim of the article is to analyze the relationship between rhetoric and practice surrounding both projects. Even if both programs have good intentions, the result in this article shows it can be hard to align the proclaimed objectives with the practical implementation. Drawing on neo-institutional theory, this relationship is further investigated using the concepts of rational myths, decoupling, organizational hypocrisy, mimetic isomorphism, and moral legitimacy. On this basis, the findings suggest that the presumed positive notion of sport as a means for different societal outcomes can be both praised and criticized.

The 'Sport for Development and Peace' (SDP) sector emerged during the twenty-first century, which conceptualizes sport ' s contribution to international development. Two Scandinavian SDP programmes serve as examples in this article: LdB FC for Life in South Africa (football and HIV/AIDS prevention) and Open Fun Football Schools in Moldova (football and peace building). Although there is a growing body of research highlighting a correlation between sport and socio-political benefits, it is acknowledged that more needs to be done to understand this connection and the impact sport can have. Furthermore, many SDP initiatives fail to translate ideas into action. Consequently, this illustrates a discrepancy between intention and implementation. On this basis, the aim of this paper is to analyse LdB FC for Life and Open Fun Football Schools from the initiators', sponsors', and donors' perspectives. Accordingly, it seeks to explore the relationship between rhetoric and practice surrounding both projects.

Idrott används alltmer som medel för att uppnå fred och utveckling i utsatta delar av världen. Idrotten har en förmåga att attrahera många människor genom sin popularitet. Men trots intentioner om att bidra till hiv/aids-bekämpning eller fredssamtal riskerar fokus istället att hamna på tävling och prestation. Kanske sätter vi för stor tilltro till idrottens bidrag till global utveckling? Det skriver Niklas Hafen, doktor i idrottsvetenskap.

The aim of this doctoral thesis is to analyze Sport for Development and Peace (SDP) initiatives from the initiators, sponsors and donor’s perspective through the Scandinavian examples LdB FC For Life in South Africa and Open Fun Football Schools in Moldova. On this basis, it seeks to explore the relationship between rhetoric and practice surrounding both projects. The study is grounded in neo-institutional theory – primarily through the work of John Meyer and Brian Rowan, Nils Brunsson and Mark Suchman. On a general level, neo-institutional theory is suitable when studying the social interaction between organizations and their environments. Given the thesis aim and explicit focus on two SDP organizations it thus becomes appropriate to use. Current study is predominantly based on data constructed through fieldwork in Sweden, Denmark, South Africa and Moldova during a period between 2011 and 2013. The methods used are qualitative ranging from observations to semi-structured interviews. In addition, homepages and documents relating to the two projects have been analyzed. A case study research methodology has been applied and the writing has been inspired by ethnographic fiction. The study shows that there is indeed a discrepancy between theory and practice – that is a gap between intention and implementation meaning initiators, sponsors and donors do not exactly practice what they preach. This inconsistency has been explained by the use of the theoretical concepts of decoupling, moral legitimacy and organizational hypocricy. A common feature of LdB FC For Life and Open Fun Football Schools is that they position themselves as SDP initiatives using sport merely as a means, not an end. This can be illustrated by their objectives, which is to mitigate the spread of HIV/AIDS and create political stability. However, from observations and interviews on site in South Africa and Moldova an opposite picture emerge, namely a strong focus on the development of sport through training and competition. In addition, the empirical findings show that both initiatives serve as a means by which initiators and sponsors can create lucrative advantages on a competitive market. Moreover, the undertaken activities function as a means by which they can be associated with something that the general public considers good, namely social responsibility. Even if both initiatives have good intentions, more research has proven crucial to justify the existence and magnitude of many of today´s SDP programs. This study has aimed to contribute to that discussion, mainly by examining the pros and cons of two specific examples. Consequently, it hopes to fill the parts of a missing gap.

Idrott används framgångsrikt för integration och konflikthantering i krigshärjade länder. Den bryter barriärer mellan människor oavsett kön, etnicitet och religion. Men kanske tenderar vi att sätta allt för stor tilltro till idrottens möjligheter.