Elite Sport Development Research Articles

The concept of ‘policy windows’ in elite sport development: positive events and spatial domains of policy windows

This article explores the concept of policy windows within the multiple streams framework through a case study of Hong Kong, specific to cycling and fencing. Data were sourced from 15 semi-structured interviews with pertinent insiders in Hong Kong. Two main findings take centre stage. First, in the context of elite sport, in addition to problems and political events, policy windows can also be opened by positive events, most notably successful performances and breakthroughs. Second, in spatial terms, policy windows comprise both (1) policy windows from other policy sectors including non-elite sport sectors; and (2) elite sport policy-focused policy windows. This paper has the potential to advance the concept of policy windows by adding the perspective of positive events and further developing the spatial domain features beyond the big-little divide. The findings also have utility for elite sport practitioners who will more likely launch positive policy changes or pursue desirable outcomes.

Nigerian football system: examining macro-level practices against a global model for integrated development of mass and elite sport

This study assessed the macro-level football management practices in Nigeria giving references to best international practices with a goal to determining areas for improvement. A questionnaire was developed for the following elements of the model: Partnerships with supporting agencies, balanced and integrated funding and structures of mass and elite sport. Survey questions were validated by six experts including academicians, executives from sport governing bodies, football coaches and administrators. To determine the areas for improvement, the copies of questionnaire were completed by 116 coaches. Possible advancements were identified through semi-structured discussions with 10 football administrators and experts. Results suggested possible enhancements at macro level (socio-economic, cultural, legislative and organizational). Identified were best international macro football management practices. Detailed were ways to improve partnerships with supporting agencies and balanced and integrated funding and structures of mass and elite sport, therefore improving national health, education, crime control and social harmony in Nigeria.

Perceived Market Value of Governmental Investment on Elite Sport Development in South Korea

By utilizing the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM), this study aims to calculate the Korean citizens’ willingness to pay (WTP) for elite athlete development and to determine whether a difference exists between the general public’s WTP and the government’s investment in the cause. The WTP per household was 15.82 USD. Multiplying the aforementioned figure by the number of households in Korea in 2020, we estimated that the total annual benefits of national athlete training support are 322.801million USD. After the survey on the WTP for the research participants, then adjusting for the income tax paid during 2021–2025 to the price level of 2019, the economic benefit of elite athlete development was calculated to be 1.354 billion USD for 30 years, and 86.869 million USD when converted to an annual basis. The 2019 national athletes training cost supported by the government, which is 61.652 million USD, was compared with the result of this study, 86.869 million USD. As a result, the benefits of training national representatives are estimated to be about 1.4 times higher than the national athletes training cost of sports supported by the government. This study makes significant contributions in that it is the first study in Korea to estimate the value of national athlete training support as a quantified basis based on quantitative analysis, unlike previous qualitative analysis of tentative policies.

The attraction, retention, and transition of elite sport development pathways in surfing in Australia

ABSTRACT Purpose Successful athlete development is subject to stakeholder involvement with the delivery of development pathways. This paper explores the role of stakeholders on elite surfer development during its transition to an Olympic sport. Research methods Semi-structured interviews with 26 staff from surfing organisations were used to explore stakeholder involvement in elite surfer pathways. Findings Local clubs are responsible for supporting talented surfers to progress to higher levels of competition. Their limited access to support from other stakeholders is problematic because clubs lack capacity to provide surfers with the opportunities to succeed, and on their pursuit of competing at the Olympics, surfers “drop out”. Practical implications The important role that local clubs play on athletes’ Attraction-Retention-Transition-Nurturing (ARTN) processes and success, points to the need to revisit the level of support clubs receive, especially if they are to continue laying the foundations and underpin surfers’ success at the Olympics. Research contribution A novel outlook on the ARTN framework has been gained by illustrating the need for structural changes on stakeholder involvement with surfer development as that need is brought on to a typically lifestyle sport transitioning into an Olympic sport.

Contexts shaping the development and success of elite sport systems: a scoping review

ABSTRACT The importance of contexts in analysing elite sport systems and policies, as reflected in substantial research over the past couple of decades, is considered to nurture or constrain the development and outcome of elite sport systems toward international sporting success. Theorising elite sport systems as institutions operating and embedded in an open system may provide insight into the “hows” (throughput processes) and the “whys” (conditions) of the effectiveness of sport systems and policies to determine what may work (or not work) for each country’s specific context. This scoping review aims to examine and map determinants of elite sport development in nations. Specifically, the review analysed how studies: (1) theorised the determinants, (2) used terms to denote contextual determinants for elite sport development and success and (3) described or conceptualised context. Further, the review identified context dimensions derived from the elite sport development determinants. The scoping review identified 19 studies that contain relevant contextual determinants. Findings present seven context dimensions derived from a neo-institutional organisation framework that pertain to different institutional contexts that may influence the development of elite sport policy systems. An improved conceptualisation of context may enhance our understanding of the relationship between processes (i.e., sport policy mechanisms) and contexts.

World's leading countries experience in the management of elite sports: a review article

Purpose: To present a comparative description of elite sports management in the world sports leaders and to substantiate the possible use of the experience of these countries for elite sports development in Ukraine.
 Material and methods: The analysis of literature sources was carries out by working with scientific works, which are presented in the databases “ Web of science”, “Scopus”, “Pub Med” and others. The literary sources were searched for according to the keywords: "elite sports functioning and development", "main indices of elite sports development", "innovations in elite sports". Next, the results were specified according to the keyword "USA", "China", "Great Britain", "Germany", "Ukraine" and separately by the keyword "comparative analysis". A total of 537 works were found according to the keywords, of which 37 were selected for the literature review. The selection was carried out as follows: first, the topic of the articles was analyzed, then, if the topic corresponded to the direction of our study, the annotation was analyzed. If the annotation corresponded to the direction of our research, the text of the article was analyzed.
 Results. The essence and peculiarities of elite sport functioning and development in USA, China, Great Britain, and Germany, the leaders of world sports are considered. It is shown that in many countries of the world, state authorities tend to pay significant attention to the field of elite sports development.
 It is established that in order to take the lead in world sports, in particular at the Olympic Games, the USA, China, Great Britain, and Germany are carrying out innovative development of the system of elite sport. However, the innovative development of elite sport in each country occurs according to its own scenario with due account for national specifics. At the same time, elite sport in Ukraine continues to develop according to an extensive model.
 The presented analysis of elite sports management in the advanced countries of the world can contribute to the improvement of the system of elite sports in Ukraine with account for foreign experience. The data obtained indicate that the system of elite sport management used in Great Britain may be the most appropriate for the functioning and development of elite sport in Ukraine.
 Conclusions. One of the possible approaches to the formation and implementation of state policy in the field of elite sport is to use the successful experience of the elite sport management system, which is functioning in Great Britain.

The Fairy Tale of Professional Maltese Sport: Exploring Obstacles and Hindrances in Local Elite Sport Development

It is an anomaly to hear of a Maltese athlete who earns a living solely fromsport. Culturally, it is almost considered nonsensical for an athlete to consider pursuingsport as a profession. In contrast, Cyprus, Iceland, Luxembourg, and Liechtenstein are fourcomparable countries that form part of the European Small States and are all under theone million inhabitants mark. Notably, however, each can boast of a number of professionalathletes and lucrative results at the highest pinnacle of sports, the Olympic Games. Indeed,Liechtenstein, probably one of the smallest states in Europe with a modest population of38,244 as opposed to Maltas 416,388 (at the time of writing), has very recently won bronzeat the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Koreatheir ninth at the winter edition.These anomalies beg the question: is a Maltese world-class athlete a character from a fairytale? Or is this a sociocultural issue? The themes explored in this paper highlight a numberof contrasting, yet impactful differences between the micro-states. Accordingly, using theMalta situation as a lens, we theoretically explore what may impede some populations frombeing equally competitive as other European micro-states.

Media and Women Elite Athletes in the Arab World: Current Status and Perspectives for Developments

Media coverage of elite sport dates back to the 1960s, and ever since, media coverage of sport has been highly prevalent. This significant relationship has an impact on many factors including the social status of elite athletes. Thus, this paper first highlights the growth of media popularity in elite sport, and then proposes a new method of measurement of the media popularity of recognized sports, based on the methodology of the World Ranking of Countries in Elite Sport. This innovative index will allow the identification of the most popular sports around the world within the Arab context. After providing this data, this paper seeks to evaluate whether the popular sports indeed provide social advantages to the elite athletes who practice them, and to estimate accurately the impact that media have on the development of elite sport. These concepts extend to show the disparities between media coverage of male and female athletes and its wider impact on the athlete, sport, and/or culture. Recommendations for development of media practices are noted, including the proposition to refer in media contexts to sportspersons as athletes, as opposed to the use of terms which reinforce stereotypical divisions (male vs. female) thus challenging the reinforcing of gender stereotypes within the media.

Junior hockey’s impact on psychosocial development

ABSTRACT Junior hockey is an elite sport development model impacting over 20,000 adolescent athletes each year. Participation in junior hockey requires adolescents, 16–21 years old, to move away from home, disrupt academics, and participate in intense sport development models during critical developmental years. The influence of junior hockey on long-term psychosocial development is unknown. The present research measured developmental outcomes of college-enrolled former junior hockey players utilizing the Student Development Task and Lifestyle Assessment (SDTLA) and the Athlete Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS). Statistical analyses examined the impact of junior hockey on measures of athletic identity and psychosocial development, along with comparisons to a representative population of male college students. Findings indicate junior hockey’s contribution to increased athletic identity and delays in aspects of psychosocial development compared to normative populations of male college students. Recommendations are provided for junior hockey shareholders towards improving developmental outcomes associated with junior hockey.

Talent transfer: a complementary elite sport development pathway

ABSTRACT Research question While talent transition pathways have received substantial research attention in the elite sport development literature, talent transfer initiatives, which enable athletes to transition from one sport to another, have received limited consideration. This research addresses the following question pertaining to elite sport development: What features differentiate structured talent transfer from talent transition pathways? Research methods This exploratory study draws on expert practitioners’ perspectives of talent transfer through semi-structured interviews conducted in 2018 with staff (N = 5) and coaches (N = 5) from an Australian-based program. Results and findings Differential features of talent transfer identified in this study include accelerated athlete integration into elite sport program, the presence of pre-elite prominent athletic prowess and when compared to talent transition pathways, differentiated skill development progress to the elite level. Additionally, interorganisational collaboration between sports was found to be essential for delivering structured transfer pathways. Implications The differential features suggest that talent transfer can complement talent transition pathways in elite sport development system. However, talent transfer requires the development of cross-sport collaborations. A structured talent transfer definition is provided in an effort to overcome misconceptions and encourage the integration of talent transfer within elite sport development frameworks and sport policy literature.

State regulation of elite sport functioning in China at the current stage of sport development (foreign experience)

The article addresses the essence and peculiarities of state regulation of elite sport functioning in China. The elite sport in China holds pride of place in social life – politics, economics, international relations.
 It is shown that all activities in the field of sport, including the elite sport, are regulated by the Law «On Sports of the People's Republic of China». In China, state regulation plays a significant role in elite sport functioning and development, one of the main instruments of which is the state budget. The highest governing body for sports development in China is the General Administration in Sports Affairs, which is headed by the President of the NOC of China. At the state level, a set of measures aimed at effective elite sport functioning and development is being developed and implemented. It should be noted that centralized management with strict administration of sports development in China has made sport too regulated and unattractive in market conditions. Therefore, in 2014 the government formulated a plan to accelerate the development of the sports industry, stimulate sports engagement, increase the social significance of sport called “Measures to accelerate the development of the sports industry and promote sports engagement”. The program takes into account the implementation of a new state innovation strategy for elite sport development, which envisages investment in infrastructure, human resources, and research services in this area. According to this plan, the tax for large corporations that finance sport is reduced from 25 to 15%, whereas for the most active sponsors of sports – up to 3%. This plan has greatly contributed to the expansion of commercialization and professionalization of Chinese sport, attracting sponsors, especially for such sports events as football and basketball.
 The conducted study has revealed that the Chinese government is making serious efforts for the successful and dynamic development of elite sport in the country. State regulation in this field of sport is characterized, above all, by the presence of special legislation, a system of state bodies with powers, a mechanism of regulation and control. One of the most peculiar features of the modern Chinese system of elite sport is the transition from an extensive model of development to an innovative one.

The diplomatic roles of Korean state-run sport for development programs

The Korean government established the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in April 1991 as an agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) to design and execute most of its official development assistance (ODA) grants. Since then, KOICA has administered two forms of Korean sport grants: sport aid projects (e.g. the construction of sport facilities and provision of sport equipment) and sport technical cooperation programs (sport volunteering and Taekwondo coaching programs). Drawing on Murray’s (2018) categorization of sport diplomacy, as well as Foucauldian discourse analysis, we examine how KOICA sport initiatives have, over three decades, operated to support the government's foreign policy and diplomatic goals. The findings reveal that KOICA sport initially prioritized elite sport development in an approach akin to traditional sport diplomacy. Now, however, it appears to have adopted global sport for development (SFD) strategies with a focus on social development, in line with a new sport-oriented, public diplomacy approach. Through the combination of these two strategies, the role played by KOICA sport as a diplomatic tool of the Korean state has become more sophisticated.

Virtus Academy - driving the development of elite sport for athletes with intellectual impairment

Virtus Academy - driving the development of elite sport for athletes with intellectual impairment

Asian Games Success 2018 : Policy Elite Athlete Development and Development Indonesia

The success of elite sports in Indonesia plays an important role in building and constructing national identity. Along its development, the success of sport is pictured as symbol of national resurrection and sport winner as national icon. Status and power of sports Indonesia among other countries is measured by the country’s success of having achievement in international sport events. Elit sport development are implemented through sport introduction stage, monitoring, fostering, also developing talent and improving achievement (UU SKN No. 3 Tahun 2005). The system of elite sport development in Indonesia which is oriented to: a) build elite’s facility; b) support for athletes; c) provide training and sport science; and d) centered competition opportunity (Pelatnas) in the preparation of international competition. This study explores the sports achievements of Indonesia with the aims of maximizing the policy of elite sport development in Indonesia. The achievements of elite sports are the pride of the country, including obtaining diplomatic recognition, ideological competition and a belief that the success of sports in international level gives benefit for socio-politic in the nation, starting from feeling pleased, optimistic and giving impact economically, especially in relation to organizing elite sports competitions.Keyword: achievement, elite athlete, Indonesia, national identity, sport development

A Historical Review of Elite Sport Development in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, one of the most visible non-sovereign entities on the international stage, has a distinctive profile as a previous British colony and current Special Administration Region (SAR) of China with the retention of an independent sporting status. However, research on elite sport development in this region remains relatively uncharted territory. This study provides a panoramic view of Hong Kong’s elite sport development since 1842, specific to four phases identified, namely the infancy of sport (1842–1950), the inception but slow development of elite sport (1950–1973), the rapid growth of elite sport (1973–1997), and further expansion of elite sport development (1997–2019). The discussion of each of these periods will follow the same structure: political context, government sports structure, financial support, and high-performance achievements (i.e. at the Olympic Games and other major competitions). This paper is expected to provide a unique and in-depth context for further studies concerning policy analysis and governance study particularly for non-major Olympic participants with a relatively distinctive political and sporting status.

Exploratory analysis of factors affecting on elite sport policy agenda setting phrase: Korean policies for elite sport athlete identification and development

Purpose This research aims to find out factors affecting policy at the agenda setting phrase. In order to analyze, Multiple Streams Framework(MSF) was adopted. Based on the frame, policy problem stream, policy alternative stream, political stream, window of policy change, and policy entrepreneur were applied for analytical framework. Methods The research conducted qualitative research with triangulation. Data were collected by in-depth interview and literature review including newspaper and previous researches. Content analysis was done for deriving factors. Then categorization and itemization were conducted. Results For the result, factors derived from the study were not different from factions mentioning at MSF. For policy problem stream perspective, this study draw International Sports Event Result, Hosting International Sports Event, Elite Sports Athletic Recruiting, Athletic and Sports Category Supporting System, Student Study Right/Student Human Right/Sports Academy, Policy Reality, Sport Expert/Institute Capability, Perception of Elite Sport Origin. factors. In the case of Policy Alternative Stream, This study finds Sports Related Administrative Organization Restructure, Supporting Policy of Elite Athletic Promoting Restructure, Parent Policy of Elite Athletic Promoting Policy, Parent Institution of Elite Athletic Promoting Law, Incentive Institution for Elite Athletic, Supporting Institution for Elite Athletic, Value of Policy Community for Sports Category Feature, Value of Policy Community for Sports Category Fairness, Budget, International Sports Event Hosting Policy factors. Lastly, in the political perspective, this study figures out Elite Sports for Nation Integration, Elite Sports for Enhancing National Prestige (North and South Replacement), Elite Sports for Inter Korean Reconciliation and Cooperation, Sports Related Administrative Organization Restructure Following Regime Change, Parent Policy Change of Elite Sports Following Regime Change factors. Conclusions The research has academic implication for generating elite sport policy agenda setting model as well as practical implication for urging effective participation of various practitioners concerning elite sport.

The role of development programs in enhancing organizational capacity of National Paralympic Committees: a case study of the Road to the Games program

ABSTRACT Rationale/Purpose: This study examines the role of elite sport development programs in the capacity building process of disability sport organizations. Design/Methodology/Approach: An instrumental qualitative case study design was employed with data consisting of documentation and semi–structured interviews with program administrators and senior leadership from seven NPCs. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and yielded four main themes. Findings: Development programs are external and incentivized stimuli which can initiate the capacity building process. Prior assessment of target groups' needs and existing capacities are key to program design and implementation. Practical Implications: Recommendations are provided for program administrators on how they may support the development of NPCs organizational capacities through each stage of the capacity building process. Research contribution: The study contributes to the literature on elite Para sport development and organizational capacity by highlighting the importance of, and challenges in, aligning development programs' objectives with the target organization's needs.

제주특별자치도 체육정책 개발을 위한 정책 제언

The purpose of this study is to suggest sport policy development in the areas of elite sport, sport for all, physical education, sport facilities, and sport industry in Jeju Special Self-Governing Province. Based on SWOT analysis of the fields, the results indicated the development of sport industry and improvement elite sport and sport for all(strengths), decline in the quality of elite sport and lacking sport facilities(weaknesses), increased investment in sport for all and sport facilities(opportunities), and the expansion of sport facilities in other cities and advancement of sport industry(threats). As a results, we provided six policy suggestions, such as expansion of public sports clubs in cooperation with elite sport, development of elite training system, offering integrative services using public sports facilities, building a school sports governance balancing between elite sport and sport for all, considering sport clusters and purposed sports facilities, and developing sport event tourism using local resources.

Сучасні підходи удосконалення змагальної діяльності висококваліфікованих спортсменів у спортивних іграх

Global changes in modern elite sport on a worldwide scale dictate the need to developan effective strategy for the development of sports games events at the national level. Domesticscientists and practitioners in the field of elite sport have many years of experience in planningthe preparation of athletes for major competitions and managing their competitive activities,but mostly without taking into account the international achievements in the national trainingprograms of national teams of Ukraine in sports games. The analysis of trends in the development of elite sport, as well as the possibility of using world experience with account for the national socio-economic characteristics of training athletes to improve the performance of Ukrainian national teams in sports games at major international competitions is quite topical. Objective. Improving the efficiency of competitive activity of highly qualified athletes in sports games. Methods. Analysis of planning and competition documents, generalization of special literature,method of expert assessments, pedagogical observation, pedagogical experiment, psychophysiological methods, methods of mathematical statistics. Results. The priority directions of ensuring the successful competitive activity of highly qualified athletes in team and individual sports games events are considered. The analysis of training and competitive practice of the world best players with definition of model characteristics of their integral preparation is carried out. A synthesis of the spectrum of psychophysiological and technico-tactical indices of highly qualified athletes’ integral fitness has been carried out. It is determined that the implementation of effective performance of athletes of national teams of Ukraine in sports games on the international arena requires optimization of the training process based on individualization with the parallel use of technico-tactical, psychophysiological models of fitness of the world best players in combination with modern capabilities of our country.

Too much at stake to uphold sport integrity? High-performance athletes’ involvement in match-fixing

Non-betting-related match-fixing constitutes an important integrity issue in contemporary sports. With varied forms ranging from passive tanking to the purposeful, coercive, calculated bribing of others to gain advantages, non-betting-related match-fixing can be a form of corruption that deters sport development. This paper examines high-performance athletes’ involvement in non-betting-related match-fixing in South Korea. Drawing from survey data (n = 731), this paper describes and analyses the prevalence of match-fixing, its locales (i.e., levels of competition) and origins (i.e., who made the offer/approach). Results show that: (1) 74 athletes (10.12%) were approached to take part in match-fixing, while 33 of those athletes (4.51%) actually participated; and (2) the match-fixing offers were usually made ‘by coaches’, ‘at high school-level nationwide competitions’, ‘for the purpose of entering universities’. Finally, this paper concludes by suggesting that the excessive incentives (e.g., university admission) linked with elite sport development structures may account for the strong motive behind non-betting-related match-fixing, and its endangering of sport integrity.