The effectiveness of the sports management system in Europe: High achievements, public funding and a healthy lifestyle

Abstract

The article proposes an original approach to evaluating the effectiveness of the sports management system, which differs from the classical linear and non-linear optimization methods due to its use of quantile regression models. Three main indicators were chosen for creating the quantile regressions: (i) number of participants in the Olympic Games - as a feature of the effectiveness of the high-achievement sports; (ii) total number of people engaged in sports - as a feature of an effective mass sports system, which ensures a healthy lifestyle of the population; and (iii) state expenses on recreational and sports services. The quality of quantile regressions was validated by the Fisher test and the two-factor variance analysis. The research focused on the data of 30 European countries, which officially and publicly provide access to statistical reports on these issues. The countries were divided into two groups with above-average and below-average effectiveness of the sports management system. Two hypotheses were proposed and tested in the study. Hypothesis H1 was that the effectiveness of high-achievement sports depends on the amount of state funding for developing the sports industry. Research results confirmed this hypothesis for countries with an above-average level of sports management system effectiveness, but refuted it for the other group. Hypothesis H2 stated that the more massive the development of sport in a country, i.e., the more people are engaged in sports and lead a healthy lifestyle, the more likely this country is to achieve victories in high-achievement sports. This hypothesis was confirmed for both groups of countries.