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Sport in Society

For a Special Issue on

Artificial Intelligence and Sport from Social and Scholarly PerspectivesAbstract deadline01 May 2026Manuscript deadline01 December 2026 Special Issue Editor(s)

Shu Wan, University at Buffalo
shuwan@buffalo.edu

Huijie Zhang, South China Normal University
huijiezhang199@163.com

Journal informationSubmit an article to Sport in SocietyView Sport in Society on Taylor & Francis OnlineRead the Instructions for Authors on Sport in SocietyArtificial Intelligence and Sport from Social and Scholarly Perspectives

Since the release of ChatGPT in late 2022, an increasing number of publications have begun to examine how advancing AI technologies are reshaping the methodology and pedagogy of sport studies from humanities and social science perspectives. For example, sociologists Millington (2025) and Westerbeek (2025) explore AI’s implications for the human-machine future of sport and the impact of “algorithmic fandom” on sport marketing, respectively. Scholars in communication and media studies have also made significant contributions to this emerging discourse: Boatwright, Hu, and Larkin (2025) investigate the theoretical and practical ramifications of AI in sport communication, while Tang (2025) calls for broader methodological approaches to AI-related sport communication research. Additionally, Herold and Schlegelmilch (2024) analyze AI’s role in optimizing sport media messaging, with particular attention to ethical concerns. From a philosophical standpoint, Xu (2023) and Houterman (2024) advance the debate by examining AI’s potential to empower sport and by applying Michel Serres’s ideas to theorize sport in an algorithmic age, respectively.

Given this expanding research on AI and sport in society, there is an urgent need for a comprehensive overview and critical engagement with these developments. Motivated by this concern, the guest editors have organized this special issue to invite contributions from sport researchers across diverse disciplines to address the following questions:

●      How does AI change and challenge traditional sport media and journalism?

●      How might AI transform key relationships in sport, such as those between coaches and athletes, celebrities and fans, and teams and their communities?

●      How can we understand the interaction between AI advancement and forms of prejudice in sport, including transphobia, homophobia, misogyny, racism, and ableism?

●      How does AI influence sport and sport studies differently across the Global South?

●      How can AI be used to enhance the research and teaching of sport from humanities and social science perspectives?

References

Boatwright, B. C., Hu, Y., & Larkin, B. A. (2025). Implications for theory and praxis in sport communication. Communication & Sport. https://doi.org/10.1177/21674795231196429

Herold, E., & Schlegelmilch, B. B. (2024). Data-driven message optimization in dynamic sports media: The role of AI. Communication & Sport. https://doi.org/10.1080/14413523.2024.2372122

Houterman, A. (2024). Sport in an algorithmic age: Michel Serres on bodily intelligence and technology. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy. https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2023.2190155

Millington, B. (2025). Sport and the promise of artificial intelligence: Human and machine futures. Sociology of Sport Journal. https://doi.org/10.1123/ssj.2024-0150

Samuel-Azran, T., et al. (2024/2025). Analyzing AI bias: The discourse of terror and sport ahead of Paris 2024 Olympics. American Behavioral Scientist. https://doi.org/10.1177/00027642241261265

Tang, T. (2025). Embrace methodological breadth in Communication & Sport: A response to Cummins and Hahn. Communication & Sport. https://doi.org/10.1177/21674795251329169

Westerbeek, H. (2025). Algorithmic fandom: How generative AI is reshaping sports marketing. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2025.1597444

Xu, Y. (2023). The evolving eSports landscape: Technology empowerment and advancing artificial intelligence. Sport, Ethics and Philosophy. https://doi.org/10.1080/17511321.2023.2168039

Submission Instructions

Abstracts should be submitted to Shu Wan (shuwan@buffalo.edu) and Huijie Zhang (huijiezhang199@163.com) no later than June 1, 2026. Abstracts must be clearly written in English and must not exceed 300 words. Please include the authors’ names, academic affiliations, and full contact details with the submission. Authors of accepted abstracts will be notified by June 1, 2026..

The final draft of the research article should not exceed 8,000 words, including tables, figures, and references. When submitting your paper to ScholarOne, please select “Special Issue.”

Please consult the journal’s author guidelines when preparing your final manuscript.

Read the Instructions for Authors on Sport in SocietySubmit an article to Sport in Society