01456nas a2200193   4500000000100000000000100001008004100002653001700043653002000060653002000080653002000100100001400120245006900134856015300203300001200356490000600368520086800374022002001242                                       d10aAuthenticity10aCommoditization10aLiving heritage10aSporting heroes1 aS. Gammon00aHeroes as heritage: the commoditization of sporting achievement.  uhttps://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85006607532&doi=10.1080%2f1743873X.2014.904321&partnerID=40&md5=bee112e7ce441ec60b37a2b282236723  a246-2560 v93 aThe paper aims to explore and develop discussion relating to sports heritage by introducing the proposition that sporting heroes can be equated to forms of both tangible and intangible heritage. It begins by identifying the nature and function of sports heroes, while delineating a basic sports hero typology based upon a dialectic process that drives the emotional responses of the spectator and/or fan. Furthermore, the paper explores the commoditization process of the sporting hero that reframes them into heritage “objects”. These “objects” are, in turn, responsible for the intangible heritage achievements produced during their careers. It is argued that sports heroes represent a hitherto unexplored source of tourist interest (specifically related to authenticity and motivation) which may add to our understanding of heritage studies in general.  a1743873X (ISSN)