Digital detox, digital minimalism, and smartphone free schools reveal a desire to reduce or change how we use technologies. However, disconnecting from digital communication like smartphones and social media is not always easy or beneficial. We discuss what digital disconnection is, why people desire less digitally mediated communication, and how disconnecting can be helpful as well as its limits ..read more

The pursuit of the Olympic dream is overshadowed by the pervasive issue of interpersonal violence in sport. Despite the challenges, a growing body of research and initiatives is dedicated to reshaping the culture of high-performance sports to prioritise athletes’ safety , integrity and health. Learn more about Olympics’ dark side: Abuse and neglect in elite sports ..read more

The advent of virtual reality technology provides Olympic athletes and coaches with manifold new possibilities for training and competition preparation. Although promising and increasingly backed up by scientific research, it is important to be aware of the limitations and potential pitfalls of applying this new technology to the sports domain ..read more

Discover how sports in prison foster empathy , health, and social reintegration. By practicing with the Olympic Spirit, inmates find a means to reconnect and rebuild themselves. A holistic approach that transcends barriers and provides a path to rehabilitation ..read more

In summer 2024 all eyes will be on the elite athletes performing at the Olympics. This international special issue delves into the secrets of elite sports performance and reveals how athletes can best prepare their "Olympic-Mind" for the ultimate challenge ..read more

This article focuses on the basics of normal sleep and the various sleep problems in competitive sports athletes. Strategies and tips for improving sleep behaviour of athletes before, during, and after major competitions such as the Olympic Games are be provided ..read more

In Olympic athletes, superior physical performance is clearly evident on observation. The non-visible cognitive processes also contribute to successful performance, yet they are still weakly researched and their mechanisms are unclear. With this article, we will provide insights into state-of-the-art research on the cognition-performance link in sports, focusing on elite athletes preparing for the Olympic Games. To do so, we will illustrate challenges associated with cognitive testing in the field of competitive sports, present solutions, and pinpoint how developing sport-specific vs. general ..read more

The presence of other people is inevitable in sport and dealing with it is crucial for high-level performance. This article presents the potential explanation of social inhibition or choking under pressure in competitive contexts due to the presence of others and suggests ways to help athletes to prevent them ..read more

Editor: Elisa Bisagno Editorial Assistant: Rinat Meerson, Sofia Calderon Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale. Are you mindful of your breathing pattern? In sports, having control over one’s own breathing pattern and its regulation represents a prominent advantage. The authors draw upon empirical findings, providing an overview of the science behind voluntary breath modification and its role in Olympic athletes’ performance. Consider the example of Emma, a swimmer preparing for the upcoming Summer Olympics. To prepare her mind and body for the competition, she is creating a checklist to carefully ..read more

At the end of their Olympic careers, many athletes acknowledge the contributions of a hidden participant: their parents. In the present article, the authors review the pivotal impact of parents’ support for children’s development and success in elite sports and share insights on what constitutes positive parental involvement ..read more