International Sporting Success Research Articles

Factors enabling and hindering sporting success among South African elite athletes from historically disadvantaged areas: Through a coaching lens

Sporting success among nations provides a sense of value and national pride. This paper evaluated the perceptions and experiences of national coaches on the enablers and hindrances of international sporting success by elite athletes from historically disadvantaged areas (HDA) using the SPLISS framework. A qualitative research study design was employed for this study. Ten internationally recognised coaches (46.7 ± 12.9 years) volunteered for the study. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. A thematic analysis was used to analyse data. Data was analysed using a computer software programme. Governance, organisation and sports policies, coach provision, local/international competition access, bursaries/scholarships and sport volunteerism were perceived as enablers, while lack of financial support, foundation level participation, school sport, athlete retention, sports facilities, reliable transport system and scientific support were perceived to be hindrances to sporting success. The findings highlight the need for policymakers to oversee and ensure a systemic governance approach with an integrated sports support system and effective policies, institutions and strategic planning, coupled with an adequate budget allocation in support of this system to facilitate elite sports success.

Good governance principles: Snapshot of athletes’ and coaches’ commissions within their National Sports Federations in 2019

Introduction
 Good governance principles of National Sports Federations (NSF) include the representation of athletes and coaches through commissions (PlayTheGame, n. d.). This representation has been an important issue in Switzerland since the “Magglingen Protocols” of October 2020, which outlined the abuses in Swiss women’s gymnastics. In response, Swiss Olympic and the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport have taken measures, including the representation of athletes and coaches within their NSFs. One year before the abuses became public, athletes, coaches and NSFs’ officials were surveyed regarding principles of good governance. The surveys comprised questions on their involvement in policy-making at national level and, in particular, the existence of an athletes’ and coaches’ commission within their NSFs.
 Methods
 Using the SPLISS model (Sports Policy Factors Leading to International Sporing Success) and respective surveys (De Bosscher et al., 2006), 1,450 athletes with a Swiss Olympic Card Gold, Silver, Bronze or Elite from 54 different sports, 734 coaches with a national coaching position and a professional coaching qualification and 122 officials from NSFs were surveyed via an online survey (Kempf et al., 2021).
 Results
 Around 990 athletes assessed their involvement in the development and evaluation of policy guidelines, of which 16% (n = 156) reported to be “very/sufficiently involved” in the development within their NSF, followed by 13% (n = 130) for Swiss Olympic and 10% (n = 99) in FOSPO respectively. Overall, 50% (n = 451 – 507) of athletes consider their involvement to be “insufficient/not at all” in all three organisations. The responses for the evaluation of policy guidelines were similar. Regarding the existence of an athlete’s commission within their NSF, 44% (n = 442) of athletes stated that there is one, while 35% (n = 351) did not know; respectively coaches for coaches’ commission: 30% (n = 129) and 25% (n = 108). Finally, 46% (n = 41) of officials stated that there was a coaches’ committee in their NSF and 30% (n = 25) for the athletes’ commissions respectively.
 Discussion/Conclusion
 The results show that in 2019, an important number of athletes do not feel sufficiently involved in national level policy-making and that a significant number of athletes and coaches are not represented by a commission within their NSF. Meanwhile, the findings confirm the need for improved communication, particularly in relation to the existence of commissions. As posited by PlayTheGame (n. d.), clearly communicating the rights and responsibilities of commission members is needed to improve coaches and athletes’ involvement. Further research could make a comparison with the current situation and analyse the impact of the measures introduced by FOSPO and Swiss Olympic since 2020.
 References
 De Bosscher, V., De Knop, P., Van Bottenburg, M., & Shibli, S. (2006). A conceptual framework for analysing sports policy factors leading to international sporting success. European Sport Management Quarterly, 6(2), 185-215. https://doi.org/10.1080/16184740600955087
 Kempf, H., Weber, A. C., Zurmühle, C., Bosshard, B., Mrkonjic, M., Weber, A., Pillet, F., & Sutter, S. (2021). Leistungssport Schweiz. Momentaufnahme SPLISS-CH 2019 [High performance sport Switzerland. Snapshot SPLISS-CH 2019] (2nd, rev. ed.). Bundesamt für Sport BASPO.
 PlayTheGame. (n. d.). Strengthening athlete power in sport. https://www.playthegame.org/projects/strengthening-athlete-power-in-sport-sapis/

Birthplace as a factor of influence for the sporting success of Brazilian Olympic gymnasts

The main objective of this study was to identify the population and socioeconomic profile of the place of birth of Brazilian Olympic gymnasts in the three gymnastics disciplines that are part of the Olympic Games program (Men's and Women's Artistic Gymnastics, individual and team Rhythmic Gymnastics, and Men's and Women's Trampoline Gymnastics) and their relationship with international sporting success. This study was characterized as descriptive, with a quantitative approach using the following analysis factors: State of the country, Region of the country, Number of inhabitants, Demographic Density, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita, and Municipal Human Development Index (MDI). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study is original in that it gathers diverse information about athletes who represented Brazil in different editions of the Olympic Games in a specific group of sports and contributes to understanding factors that influence international sports success for gymnastics modalities in the Brazilian context. The data indicate that Brazilian Olympic gymnasts from cities in the South and Southeast regions of the country, with more than 100,001 inhabitants, with a demographic density greater than 1869.37 inhabitants/km2, and with a high or very high HDI are more likely to achieve international sporting success. We believe that this study can contribute to future studies to analyze the influence of environmental factors on sporting success, especially in the Brazilian context.

Exploring the subjective beliefs of expert coaches on ‘talent’ and player selection in German table tennis

Player development programmes in sports are considered crucial pillars for the development of young players and countries’ international sporting success. As resources are limited, coaches preferably decide which players to select for these programmes at a young age. This is particularly true for early-starting sports such as table tennis. However, the selection criteria used by coaches and the decision-making processes in player selection contexts are widely unknown. To address this gap, we conducted 15 in-depth semi-structured interviews with table tennis coaches with high expertise in the identification and development of talented young players. Here we show that the concept of ‘talent’ and the process of player selection in table tennis are highly complex phenomena with three main areas of interest identified: (a) general aspects regarding ‘talent’ (in table tennis), (b) specific selection criteria including individual as well as environmental aspects, and (c) the process of player selection. One main finding is that coaches see ‘talent’ as dependent on various factors including (relative) age, maturation as well as practice and previous experience. Furthermore, coaches appear to include both individual (e.g., technical skills) and environmental criteria (e.g., parents’ support) in their decision-making process. Finally, the interviews revealed that player selection decisions are usually made by multiple coaches during group meetings, suggesting the relevance of group processes and dynamics. In summary, this study provides new findings regarding the understanding and discovery of ‘talent’ in table tennis that can help practitioners and open new avenues for further research on player selection in sports.

Factors promoting and hindering sporting success among South African former Olympians from historically disadvantaged areas.

There are various contributing factors to sporting success among elite athletes, including Olympians. The purpose of this paper was to investigate the enablers and/or barriers to sporting success among South African former Olympians from historically disadvantaged areas (HDAs) using the SPLISS framework. This would enable an understanding of the factors that lead to sporting success among athletes from HDAs. A qualitative research design was employed for this study, whereby semi-structured interviews were conducted among 15 former Olympians who represented South Africa between the 1992 and 2016 Olympic Games. The ATLAS.ti (version 22) software tool was used to analyse the data. The study found that athletes from HDAs attributed their sporting success to the functional competition structure, sports access at community level, access to scholarships and bursaries to elite schools/universities, good coaching support and mentorship, access to local and international competitions, as well as community and peer athlete support. The highest barriers reported by athletes were inadequate financial support, a dysfunctional school sport system, lack of sports facilities, equipment and transport system, poor post-career and scientific support. Elite athletes from HDAs need consistent financial support, school/foundation level sport access, quality sports facilities, equipment, and reliable transport to training and competitions, post-career, as well as scientific support to achieve their full potential and attain international sporting success.

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.

Perceptions of current support systems leading to international sporting success for South Africans

The purpose of the study was to examine the availability of elite sport support systems of South African National Sports Federations (NSFs) and their accessibility to athletes from historically disadvantaged areas (HDA). Twenty-one NSFs from Olympic sports participated in the study whereby they responded to a questionnaire on sports policy factors leading to sporting success (SPLISS). Descriptive statistical analyses were conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 27.0, IBM). Informed consent was obtained from all participants before the study commenced. The majority of the NSF’s respondents reported that there was an insufficiency of financial resources, scientific and research support services, and post-sport career support. They also reported overall moderate-to-high availability of governance, organisation and sport policy structure, sport facilities, and opportunities for international competitions/exposure. Financial resources, post-career and scientific support were the most frequently reported insufficiencies, with poorer support in HDAs for all of the nine pillars of support. Additional provision is required to ensure that support systems are inclusive of athletes from HDAs. Future research needs to continue the focus on providing more detailed data on the support systems accessible to elite athletes and coaches.

Connection between State Funding and International Sporting Success: The Case of Croatia

Abstract The aim of this paper is to determine the types and intensity of connection between the amount of state funding for various programmes in sport invested by Croatian Olympic Committee from 2001 until 2016 and international sporting success of Croatian athletes. A connection between 12 independent variables (funds invested in 33 summer Olympic sports (24 individual and 9 team sports) broken down in 8 specific programmes, as well as the number of athletes and coaches in different programmes) and international sporting success was tested using regression analysis. The results show statistically significant logarithm connection between success and total funds invested (ACR=0.160, R 2 =0.319, p=0.001). Additionally, three variables showed linear, eight logarithm and one quadratic type of connection. Applying different regression models contributes to better understanding of connection between the amount and direction of investments in high performance sport and result of those investments in the form of achieved international sporting success.

International sporting success factors in GB para-track and field

ABSTRACT Research Question Elite sport structures that support para-athletes are designed on the assumption that the international sporting success factors are concomitant for parasport and non-disabled sport. However, there is a lack of research on elite parasport policy and the nuances which may exist for specific sports. This study investigates the international success factors for GB para-track and field. Research Methods A mixed-methods approach was used, including quantitative surveys completed by elite GB para-athletes (n = 42) and their coaches (n = 38) and qualitative semi-structured interviews with athletes (n = 7), coaches (n = 5) and UK para-athletics support staff (n = 3). Findings The study revealed that although factors found in previous non-disabled studies were identified, several para-track and field-specific variables that influence these existing factors were also discovered. These were the nature of impairment (acquired or congenital); level of support and care needs; and level of equipment needs. Implications The study presents a framework summarising the variables influencing international para-track and field success. This can be used to inform the development of GB para-track and field policy and the design of parasport support structures to optimise success. Research contribution The paper contributes to growing knowledge on achieving sporting success in parasport and the differences with non-disabled sport.

Sports incentive law: analysis of the Gold Kimono Judo Project

The aim of the study was to analyze the judo project “Kimono de Ouro” from 2011 to 2017, based on resources promoted by the Sports Incentive Law and the application of the national performance sport policies model. The qualitative and descriptive study was carried out through documentary analysis and comparing to the model of Sports Policy Factors Leading to International Sporting Success. From the perspective of sports performance, the results show by the Sports Incentive Law improved the project and show significant correlations with Sports Policy Factors Leading to International Sporting Success. In colclusion, fundraising, financial management and the qualification of the multidisciplinary team were fundamental for the evolution of sports performance.

The Relationship Between the Economic Development Levels of the Countries and Their Sporting Achievements in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between the economic development and order of success of the countries ranked in the top 20 at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. In this context, the total number of medals of the countries in the top 20 of the total number of medals in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was selected as a sporting success, as an indicator of development, the countries’ Gross Domestic Product (GDP) levels were also considered.In order to investigate the relationship between sporting success and economic development; SPSS package program was used. The significance level was considered as p < 0.05. Correlation analysis was performed by selecting the total number of medals as a dependent variable, the gross domestic products as an independent variable, and the population as a control variable.Findings of this research, a relationship was found the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the countries and the number of medals obtained at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.According to these findings, a relationship has been found between economic development of countries and the number of medals won at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which we can see as international sporting success.

Fatores críticos de sucesso esportivo no karate do Brasil a partir de sua inclusão ao programa olímpico oficial

O objetivo deste estudo consistiu em investigar as implicações causadas pela inclusão do karate aos Jogos Olímpicos de Tóquio 2021, no que se refere aos Fatores Críticos de Sucesso (FCS) e ao desenvolvimento do karate. Para isso, foram realizadas entrevistas semiestruturadas com atletas, ex-atletas, treinadores e gestores com experiência em eventos internacionais do esporte. Os dados obtidos foram analisados por meio da análise de conteúdo e estatística descritiva. Os resultados permitiram concluir que a inclusão do karate aos Jogos Olímpicos acarretou efeitos sobre os FCS e consequente desenvolvimento deste esporte de combate. O aporte de recursos financeiros para este esporte, a participação e a organização de competições nacionais e internacionais, suporte para atletas, dentre outros, são fatores de grande relevância neste contexto. No mais, espera-se que esta pesquisa proporcione conhecimento inicial destinado àqueles que possuem como interesse o melhor desenvolvimento do karate e principalmente a busca pelo sucesso esportivo internacional neste esporte, além de contribuir com outros estudos relacionados a modelos teóricos já existentes ou às especificidades do esporte / do contexto dos entrevistados.

Contextual factors influencing the South African elite sporting system: an ‘open system’ approach

ABSTRACT Elite sporting systems are often descriptions of established practices with little regard for national contexts. This paper examined the influence of contextual factors on the elite sporting system of South-Africa. The contextual factors were evaluated through the lens of systems theory (Components: Economic, social, political, legal, and technology). A maximum variation strategy was used to select experts from SA and varied European countries and South African governmental stakeholders. Data were collected through semi-structured in-depth interviews. Deductive and inductive methods were utilised during the thematic analysis. The preceding Apartheid regime, the complexity of the ‘quota system’, and the prevailing social and economic environment were identified as the major contextual aspects penetrating the elite sporting system of SA. This study emphasised the importance of understanding the national contexts of elite sporting systems, as this information can provide pertinent input when revising policies differently in order to achieve international sporting success.

Policy, political and economic determinants of the evolution of competitive balance in the FIFA women’s football World Cups

ABSTRACT Competitive balance is a key concept in sports economics. It postulates the necessity of sporting equilibrium between playing strengths to generate outcome uncertainty and thus fan demand. When looking at national teams, policy and political factors can help explain competitive balance. This article is interested in the evolution of competitive balance in the FIFA women’s football World Cups over the 1991–2019 period. It aims to identify the policy, political and economic determinants of this evolution. The theoretical framework brings together the macro and sports policy factors leading to international sporting success, the historical policies and politics of gender equality and women’s football impacting participation, and the economics and politics of the evolution of competitive balance that is positively impacted by an increase in participation. The research adopts a mixed methods approach, with the data relying both on sources documenting the historical policies and politics of gender equality and women’s football, and the measurement and determinants of the competitive balance in the women’s football World Cups. The results show that competitive balance has increased over time, consistent with the idea that the growing participation internationally translates in a better quality of the different playing strengths that, ultimately, leads to a better competitive balance. This growing participation internationally is related to the different (sport) policies and politics across countries, and the decisions made by FIFA, in particular the number of teams taking part in the competition and the breakdown per confederation as incentives for national associations to develop their women’s football team.

National pride, sporting success and event hosting: an analysis of intangible effects related to major athletic tournaments

ABSTRACTContemporary research into the impact of major sports events shows that the widely used (and popular) claim of economic benefits associated with hosting them is misleading or – at best – overrated. In this paper, we aim to measure whether other potential intangible effects can be found, specifically that of national pride. We expand on existing research by including more international sports events and nations while also including a medal index into our regression models to test the effect of athletic achievement. Our results suggest that international sporting success is not a significant driver of national pride. Hosting mega sports events is positively correlated with pride, although this is not significant in our estimations. Implications for nations are that they should become much more strategic in order to harvest potential intangible effects. (JEL: D60; I31)

Elite sport policies and international sporting success: a panel data analysis of European women’s national football team performance

ABSTRACT Research question: While national sporting governing bodies are encouraged to implement programmes which seek to enhance their international sporting success, comparative studies on elite sport policies have provided limited empirical evidence in support of the relationship between such programmes and the achievement of sporting outcomes. Following the SPLISS framework, this study examines the longitudinal impact of four programme-level factors – financial support, human resources, coaching provision and foundation phase activity – on the international success of women’s national football teams. Research methods: Data from 55 Union of European Football Associations’ (UEFA) members were collected over a seven-year-period (2011-2017). The associations between programme-level factors and FIFA ranking points are verified through panel regression analyses. Controls for economic, talent pool, political, socio-cultural, climate and men’s football legacy variables are included. Results and Findings: The results reveal that highly specialised coaching provision has a significant and positive impact on international success in women’s football, while our proxies for financial support, human resources and foundation phase activity have no notable explanatory power for the success of women’s national teams. A country’s economic development, talent pool, climate and men’s football legacy are significant predictors of its women’s football performance level. Implications: This paper offers practical insights into the organisation and management of women’s football in UEFA nations and contributes to the theoretical debate on comparative analysis of the sporting performance of countries. This article confirms that an exclusively quantitative approach does not permit definitive conclusions to be drawn on the complex relationship between elite sport policies and international sporting outcomes.

Olympic Games Rio 2016: The Legacy for Coaches

Abstract The purpose of this study is to identify the legacy of the Olympic Games for sports coaches with a special focus on professional education. Thus, in framing this study, two research questions are posed: 1) How did Olympic Games affect the characteristics of the educational activities for coaches? 2) What was the perception about the coaches' education in Brazil, and the legacy of the event for coach's education and career? The methodology used was the content analysis of the websites of National Sports Confederations, Institutions of Higher Education in the State of Rio de Janeiro, and the National and Regional Professional Councils in Brazil, totaling 70 institutions. Concomitantly, interviews were conducted with members of the Ministry of Sport, the Brazilian Olympic Academy, and the Federal Council of Physical Education. The interview questions were grounded on the theoretical framework of Sports Policy Factors Leading To International Sporting Success - SPLISS, which included: 1) the existence of well-trained and experience elite coaches in the country; 2) opportunities to develop their coaching career to become a world-class elite coach; 3) the status of coaches and the recognition of their work as valuable throughout the country. The results indicated that the event brought few benefits to coaches. In addition, according to the interviews, coaches play a secondary role in the organization of the Olympic Games, although they are considered fundamental for the development of the sport. Based on the results, this study discusses the education of coaches and the perceived importance of coaches according to the sports and educational institutions.

Anthropometric and Physical Fitness Comparisons Between Australian and Qatari Male Sport School Athletes

Background: The increasing focus on international sporting success has led to many countries introducing sport schools and academies. Limited empirical evidence exists that directly compares student-athletes from different continents. This study investigated whether male Australian and Qatari student-athletes differ in anthropometry, physical fitness and biological maturity. Methods: 150 male student-athletes (72 Qatari, 78 Australian; age = 11.8 - 18.6 y) completed a fitness testing session involving anthropometric (standing height, sitting height, leg length, body mass, peak height velocity (PHV) measures) and physical capacity (40 m sprint, countermovement jump (CMJ), predicted maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) tests. Differences were assessed using a one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), effect size (Cohen’s d) and regression coefficients. Results: The Australian student-athletes possessed a greater standing height and body mass (P < 0.01) at their age at PHV (APHV) and had an increased rate of leg length development (P < 0.05) in contrast to the sitting height of the Qataris (P < 0.01). The Qatari student-athletes had significantly (P < 0.01) faster 40 m sprint times (mean ± SD: 5.88 ± 0.53 vs 6.19 ± 0.44 s) and greater CMJ heights (36.9 ± 7.2 vs 34.0 ± 6.0 cm) than their Australian counterparts. Although not statistically different, the Qatari student-athletes also matured earlier (APHV: d = 0.35) and had greater aerobic power results (predicted VO2 max: d = 0.22). Conclusions: Despite lower stature and body mass values, Qatari student-athletes exhibited physical fitness ascendancy over their Australian counterparts.

Can international elite sport success trickle down to mass sport participation? Evidence from Danish team handball

Many scholars do not find evidence of a trickle-down effect from elite sport success to mass sport participation. Contrary to what is assumed by the trickle-down effect “theorem”, successful elite sportspeople do not seem to inspire amateurs to take up sport themselves. However, recent studies present evidence that elite sport can have an influence. In this article, we apply regression models on time series data from one of the most successful Danish sports, team handball. Our findings are mixed, but lean towards supporting scholars who argue that trickle-down effects are not necessarily an inherent part of international sporting success. Further studies should examine more sports to identify where trickle-down effects occur and why.

More than a Miracle: The Korean War, Cold War Politics, and the 1960 Olympic Hockey Tournament

This article documents the transformation of the American national hockey team from a poorly organized initiative into a powerful, partially state-sponsored operation, in the context of the broader geo-political tensions of the Cold War. Although the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) and Czechoslovakia are typically portrayed as dubious ‘shamateurs’, paid by their respective militaries to do little but play hockey year round, we argue that the USA engaged in similar activities, albeit on a smaller scale. When the USA won hockey gold at the 1960 Olympics, the American media framed the team's success as a colossal upset of the mighty, military-supported USSR. The evolution of the American team, however, was far more complicated than this simple underdog story suggests. In this article, we use historical newspapers, sporting magazines, and government documents to illustrate the American government’s increasing commitment to international sporting success by examining the tumultuous USA national hockey program from the close of World War II (WWII) to the 1960 Olympics.