Sport Governance Research Articles

To be or not to be specific?

This article analyses how EU institutions have defined the so-called specificity of sport and the extent to which its recognition might have affected the application of internal market and competition law to sport after the adoption of Article 165 TFEU. The article relies on qualitative and inductive thematic analysis of 83 sport-related documents adopted by EU institutions. Four main themes have been identified: Definition of sports specificity, categorisation of sporting exceptions, contribution of sporting exceptions to the specificity of sport, and the impact of Article 165 TFEU in the application of EU sports law. Our findings suggest that the EU has defined the specificity of sport around a set of unique characteristics that differentiates sport from other industries. While the formal recognition of the specific structures of sport in the Treaties had little effect on the application of free movement and anti-trust provisions to sport, it seems to have had some impact in the recent application of state aid provisions to sport. Our findings are of relevance for existing debates on the regulation and governance of sport in Europe and the development of the so-called European Model of Sport.

Beyond Sports Governance: Constructing a Veritable Platform for Transparency and Accountability in Federation De International Football Association (FIFA)

Beyond Sports Governance: Constructing a Veritable Platform for Transparency and Accountability in Federation De International Football Association (FIFA)

Sports Governance after the Opinions of Advocate General Rantos in Superleague and International Skating Union

Sports Governance after the Opinions of Advocate General Rantos in Superleague and International Skating Union

A Study on the Effect of Physical Education in Chinese University on Student Satisfaction

Purpose - This study aims to understand the level and location of physical education at Chinese universities. Through the analysis of the Chinese sports industry and the government’s sports education policy, we will analyze the development process of Chinese sports education and the implementation process of the Chinese government’s sports policy to provide basic data on the future direction of Chinese sports education.
 Design/Methodology/Approach - The research method of this study analyzed the effect of physical education in China on student satisfaction through theoretical analysis and policy analysis on the Chinese sports industry and government and analyzed the development process of physical education and the implementation process of the Chinese government.
 Findings - The results of this study show the positive effect of physical education at Chinese universities on students’ satisfaction and academic achievement. Therefore, Chinese universities must devote more time and resources to physical education to improve students’ health and academic achievement.
 Research Implications - The limitation of this study is that when measuring the level of participation in sports activities, it may be difficult to grasp the overall level of participation in sports activities because it uses a qualitative measurement method or only measures some sports participation items. In addition, it can be difficult to generalize because the sample size is small to generalize the study results or because the study subject is limited to a specific university or region. Therefore, considering these limitations, finding ways to supplement the research results while actively utilizing them is necessary.

A Qualitative Study Examining How Passion Impacts Sport Board Functioning

Passion is a highly relevant focus for sport governance researchers as it can have a considerable impact on board functioning. The purpose of this study was to explore how passion impacts board functioning in national and state sport governing bodies in Australia. This phenomenon was analyzed through the eyes of 19 Chairs, who play a central role in managing passion on nonprofit sport boards. Findings showed passion is an important emotional factor impacting sport boards. Passion was found to impact sport board functioning in several beneficial (i.e., on motivation, cohesion, and climate) and disruptive (i.e., on cohesion, conflict, decision-making) ways. This research contributes to passion research by developing knowledge on the group-based outcomes of passion and by highlighting how the context of sport—as a leisure pursuit—shapes how different domains of passion manifest in sport governance through volunteer directors and its impact on board functioning.

Board Composition in National Sport Federations: An Examination of BRICS Countries

This study examined board composition in national sport federations (NSF) in the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa). BRICS is a significant geopolitical group with a strong history and interest in sport, yet there has been relatively limited sport governance research in this context. Specifically, this study measured levels of board diversity (occupational and gender) and board size in the NSFs – factors that are widely considered to impact board effectiveness. Data were collected on 184 NSFs across the five countries from online sources. The results showed that across the BRICS countries NSF directors largely come from athletic backgrounds (45.1% of total), except for China where bureaucrats prevail (61.9%). Men dominate NSF board positions, from a high of 92.1% in India to 68.4% in South Africa. Board size ranged from 20.4 in India, to 14.2 in South Africa. This study brings sport governance research to new frontiers by generating insight into board composition in contexts that are under-researched and culturally diverse.

The "autonomy" of developing countries in the Olympic Movement: Assessing the fate of sports governance transplants in the Global South.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) imposes very specific ideas on sports governance, more precisely on sports autonomy, on countries joining the Olympic Movement. Given that the idea of sports autonomy originated in the Global North, this article introduces the concept of governance transplants to evaluate the impact that being part of the Olympic Movement has on domestic sports governance in Global South developing countries. The article explores the extent to which the IOC is successful in implementing the norms and regulations on sports autonomy as a governance transplant at the national level in countries from the Global South that are part of the Olympic Movement. The article employs a comparative qualitative case study research design that explores the relations of the IOC, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), and national governments in Botswana, Guatemala and Sri Lanka. Research relies on a mix of document analyses and expert semi-structured interviews conducted during field trips to those countries. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed by means of thematic analysis. The analyses focus on domestic policies and contexts, formal and institutional compliance with sports autonomy, provision of public funding, and participation in national sport policy-making. Findings suggest that national structures and legacies have an impact on the way in which the autonomy of sport, as the governance transplant, is translated in those three countries. Although national governments enjoy some agency in "translating" governance transplants, results also suggest that misfits and tensions persist between governmental and sport stakeholders at the national and international level. Such misfits might force the IOC, as a private transnational regulator, to adopt a more pragmatic view on the enforcing of its governance transplants. The results are of relevance to existing discussions on global sports governance and debates as to whether the countries in the Global North might be able to impose their views and their governance transplants if the Global South gets a greater say in transnational sports governance.

The rise and fall of the European Super League: A case for better governance in sport

The rise and fall of the European Super League: A case for better governance in sport

Gendering strategic action fields in sports governance.

How do meso-level field relations shape the ways that sports organizations act on gender equality? In this paper, we approach international sports governance as comprised of meso-level fields of strategic action in which male dominance and relations of masculinity are centrally at stake. We focus on the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), showing how the organization's efforts to address gender inequality are shaped by its relations with adjacent actors in the field. These actors jockey to form strategic coalitions as they struggle over the influence and resources to define the field configuration of international cycling, with challenges to the gendered status quo requiring careful management. Based on semi-structured interviews with individuals who held an elected or staff position within the UCI between 2005 and 2020, we show how field relations shaped the work of the UCI Women's Committee during this period as well as the experiences of women who succeeded in accessing decision-making roles. The UCI emerges in our analysis as a central governance unit via which the historical accumulation of advantage to men is preserved. We suggest that studying meso-level fields of strategic action can advance sociological research more broadly on how sports organizations are shaped by their contingent, dynamic, and (gender) unequal context.

Sport, Sexual Violence and the Law: A Feminist Critique and Call to Action

Sport is a microcosm of society. In this connection, in as much as there are reasons to celebrate individual athletic prowess and the undeniable contribution of sport to the maturation of communities, sport, like the broader society, contends with many ills, not least sexual violence. Although various sporting organizations and governments have, in the last 2 decades, adopted legislative instruments and Codes of Ethics and established various institutional mechanisms to combat the scourge of sexual violence, sport remains a hot bed for sexual violence, intimidation, reprisals and indignity in many jurisdictions. This article accordingly interrogates, from a Feminist Perspective, recently decided cases to illustrate how sexual violence committed against women and girls in the sporting context reflects a broader deeply entrenched system of patriarchy, characterized by a culture of silence, indifference, and abuse of authority. It concludes by calling on all concerned in the governance, administration, and practice of sport to redouble their efforts to address the growing problem of sexual violence in sport.

Six sigma application requirements to improve the administrative performance of the public authority for sports in the State of Kuwait

This study aimed to explore the extent to which the requirements for the implementation of the Six Sigma method are met at the Public Authority for Sports in Kuwait by focusing on the senior management’s understanding for its philosophy and requirements, satisfaction of beneficiaries, the nature of training methods provided for the staff and the effectiveness of communication systems. These points were also explored from the perspectives of beneficiaries. The sample of the study consisted of (30) officials from the Public Authority for Sport who were chosen using a random sampling and 400 beneficiaries who were chosen using a purposive sampling. To achieve the aim of the study, two questionnaires were administrated and analyzed statistically. Results revealed a gap between the senior management in the public authority for sport (officials) and its beneficiaries and a clear weakness in the communication methods which created a dilemma for implementing Six Sigma method. Findings also suggested the lack of transparency in sport governance which does not align with the requirement of Six Sigma. Furthermore, the application of Six Sigma method needs development of and adoption for a new administrative method that takes into considerations beneficiaries’ needs and desires. Therefore, the study proposed a model based on DMAIC methodology for implementing the Six-Sigma method as a way of improving the Public Authority for sport’s administrative performance.

How Social Media Enforces Athlete Accountability in Sport?

This study aims to explore how social media enforces athlete accountability through a case study in badminton. This study employed netnography and supported by interpretive approach to understand accountability process in the social media, Twitter. The object of this study is a badminton fanbase account namely Badminton Talk. The finding indicated that this badminton fanbase account in Twitter brings a complete component of accountability into social media. The process of accountability was presented by spreading information regarding the misconduct of Indonesian badminton athletes, posting a clarification video from an athlete, evaluating the athlete’s explanation from the badminton fans, and followed by imposing sanctions for shortfalls in doing sport integrity. This study implies on enriching sport governance strategy to strengthening athlete accountability by using social media as it engages fans involvement.

Sport policy in India

ABSTRACT India boasts a rich sporting heritage dating back thousands of years. Despite its rich sporing culture, India only began developing its own sporting ecosystem in 1954 with the creation of the All-India Council of Sports (AICS), shortly after gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1947. However, in the seven decades that have passed, the systematisation and development of sport of India has been relatively slow and internationally India have had limited success on the elite stage. The aim of this profile is to provide a detailed insight into the vast sporting ecosystem in India by exploring the policies, enablers, and barriers in relation to sport participation, elite sport, and the use of sport across the nation to tackle non-sporting objectives. Following an introduction highlighting the key demographics and sporting culture in India, the profile moves onto outline the state led provision of sport in India, including how sport is organised and funded. Next, the significance of the commercial sport sector in India is highlighted, followed by a section detailing the growth of the not-for-profit sector. Finally, the profile highlights the current public policy priorities and challenges, which include elite sport success, tackling inactivity and poor governance in sport before offering some concluding observations.

The Autonomy and Specifity of Sport in a National and European Context

This article addresses the issue of autonomy and the specifics of sports activities, kinds of rules and structures in terms of their inclusion in the sphere of important principles of national and community law. One of the main problems for each sports entity represents the assurance of an efficient management (organized and competitive ) given its legitimate objectives , knowledge and application of the legal framework that regulates the activity as well as their impact on competition, as appropriate is inherent and proportionate to the objectives pursued. At the same time, the sports independence and sports organizations must be supported and protected, and their autonomy must competitively provide cohesion and participatory democracy. In national and international legislation, the autonomy of sport is treated differently. In this context, the formation of sports law, as a new branch of law will contribute to the professionalization of sports, to ensure the protection of the subjects’ rights of sports activities, the sports against abusing, as well as protection against corruption and the manipulation of the competitions results on various sport events. European Council is interested in the development of sports and its regulation along with the member states, fact reflected by the approved recommendations and implemented in practice, on the principles of good governance in sport, the recognition of the autonomy of sport, the promotion of honesty in the management of the basic values of sport (specificity of democratic, ethical, efficient and responsible sports activities). The legislative framework remains one of the most acute problems in this area whereas some states provide an extensive legislation (codified) and regulations for the sports autonomy, but most of them are limited to policy statements and sports development plans. Good governance with the recognition and respect of autonomy is an important issue for sports, including sports organizations, as their management must be ensured in a sustainable manner in close collaboration with public bodies, non-profit organizations and various economic organizations (economic agents), sports equipment, manufacturers, sponsors and media. At the beginning of the 21st century, the concepts of "autonomy" and "governance" have become major issues in international, national and - sometimes - local sports debates. Thus, the issue of "sport specificity" (recognized in Europe in 2009 by Article 165 of the Lisbon Treaty), autonomy and governance was broadly addressed. Thus, these concepts are in a direct connection with the development of national and international policies in the direction of improving the management of sport and profile organizations.

Competition Law and Sports Governance: Disentangling a Complex Relationship

Cases like International Skating Union and Super League show that the application of EU competition law to rules adopted by sports governing bodies is complex and occasionally controversial. This article discusses the peculiarities of sports as an activity and addresses the implications for Articles 101 and 102 TFEU. It shows, first, that the relationship between individual participants in a tournament is best described as co-opetitive, in the sense that their viability and success depend on sustained cooperation. Second, the emergence of a regulatory structure is inevitable. Third, tensions – of a horizontal and a vertical nature – are bound to emerge within an association. These tensions are explained, inter alia, by the opportunistic behaviour of individual participants (which may seek to benefit from the joint venture while simultaneously undermining it). The case law accounts for the peculiarities of sports. Measures aimed at addressing opportunistic conduct within a cooperative structure (such as the non-compete obligations imposed by governing bodies) do not have, as their object, the restriction of competition and do not invariably have anticompetitive effects, which are to be established case-by-case. Absent exclusive or special rights, moreover, governing bodies are not subject to a general duty of non-discrimination vis-à-vis competing organizations.

THE PATH TO RELIEF FOR INFRINGED SPORTS RIGHTS IN THE CONTEXT OF GEOPOLITICAL CONFLICTS: THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE CASE OF RUSSIAN DOMESTIC FOOTBALL TEAM SANCTIONED

As the conflict between Russia and Ukraine intensifies, the Western football world has chosen to sanction Russia by banning its domestic football teams from participating in FIFA and UEFA affiliated tournaments. Unlike previous disciplinary sanctions imposed by international football organisations, this sanction has a number of rare features in terms of the context in which it is imposed, the subject matter of its issuance and its effects, and will inevitably have a profound impact on the future governance of international sport. This article will analyze the legal governance system of international football organisations, with a focus on international sports arbitration under the jurisdiction of CAS and consider how Chinese sportsman can use legal weapons to avoid a vicious circle in the face of crises and seek more benign external interactions, with a view to establishing a voice for Chinese sport.

Playing the final in Luxembourg: The Court of Justice and the future of transnational sports governance

Playing the final in Luxembourg: The Court of Justice and the future of transnational sports governance

A Note on the Autonomy of Sport

Sport today is a world of commerce far from its humble origins as a recreational unifying activity. The age-old notion that sport should not be open from regulation by entities/persons outside sport, especially the state, are being challenged by the own making of the sport. The principle of ‘Autonomy of Sport’ has undergone changes to an extent that today we have a branch of law referred as ‘Sports Law’. The change in part is a making of the constituents of the sport (regulatory) bodies viz., organisations, associations, federations. The improper and in some cases the arbitrary working of these institutions demanded an intervention by the state and courts to streamline the governance of sport. This paper is an attempt to understand the autonomy of sport in terms of governance and the principles to be followed

(In)justice on Ice: Valieva and International Sport Governing Bodies’ Justice Duties Toward Underage Athletes

ABSTRACT After two years of discussions and revisions, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) published the 2021 World Anti-Doping Code on June 16, 2020. Among the most significant additions to this iteration of the Code was the inclusion of new categories of athletes subject to differential treatment by WADA, including the “protected person” category. In this paper, we examine the recent case of figure skater Kamila Valeryevna Valieva, the first athlete given differential treatment due to her being categorized as a “protected person.” We apply a relational justice framework to the case to provide a nuanced, descriptive analysis of the case generally, and the application of the “protected person” category in particular.We first describe details of the athlete, her performances and anti-doping rule violation, and the “protected person” category, to provide context. We then describe and analyze the relations between several institutional actors, principally WADA and the International Court for the Arbitration of Sport (CAS), the athlete and her team, and other figure skating athletes at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games. To do so, we use two concepts of justice, conservative and ideal, and their component parts, entitlement, desert, and need.Our description and analyses demonstrate that (1) WADA’s notions of justice are essentially conservative, while CAS acted toward more ideal notions, creating a fundamental disagreement in what was owed and to whom. We show (2) that CAS’ decision may have nonetheless caused harm to the athlete, raising questions about the efficacy and capability of the “protected person” category. Finally, (3) our analyses show the influence that notions of justice necessarily have these actors shape each other, thus change the sporting institutions and activities themselves.

State politics and gender diversity in sport governance

This study investigates the relationship between state politics and sport governance based on an institutional framework and the concept of spillover effects. Specifically, it examines whether spillover effects occur from state parliament and government composition to board gender diversity within sport governing bodies. Organizational-level data from German national and state sport governing bodies were collected (n = 930). They were combined with state-level data on the government composition by gender and political party (parliament, ministers) based on the location of each sport governing body’s headquarter. The results show that on average 20.1% of board members in sport governing bodies are women. Regression analyses indicate that the share of parliamentarians from the Social Democrats and the Green party is positively associated with the share of women in sport governance, while the share of Liberals in the parliament is negatively related. The share of women parliamentarians from the Social party and the share of women Conservative ministers are negatively related to women in sport governance. The findings indicate that women representation in sport governance is linked to state politics, suggesting that spillover effects occur from an organizations’ political environment.