Workshop summary

Sport Specific Policy Configurations as a Road to Olympic Success

 

The common dimensions and key characteristics of elite sport policies are well examined at a sport overall level and in developed countries (e.g., Andersen & Ronglan, 2012; De Bosscher, Shibli, van Bottenburg & Westerbeek, 2020; Houlihan & Green, 2008). However, there is less available knowledge on (1) sport specific models of elite sport development, (2) the organisational capacity of countries at sport specific level or (3) the role of (regional or private) third-party organisations in the development of Olympic success in specific sports.

 

From a policy perspective, the relationship between governments and National Sport Organisations (NSOs) (called national governing bodies in the UK and federations in most European countries) are complex. Internationally, NSOs among multiple sports have been subject to performance or policy reviews investigated by government due to financial problems, failure to raise participation rates at grassroots levels or decreasing elite performance levels. However, apart from the NSOs, sporting systems at sport specific level depend on a complex set of relationships and dependencies between government and non-governmental organisations, practices and stakeholders.

 

This workshop includes research perspectives on policy configurations in elite sport development as well as experts in change management of NSOs.

 

Format of the workshop

The track will be run as a workshop, where both academic and policy perspectives are presented and discussed by researchers or policy representatives.

 

Workshop Facilitator

Mr Jasper Truyens, Doctoral Researcher, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) (Facilitator)