Sport Organizations Research Articles

The quest for sustainable sports management: evidence from the football industry

PurposeThis study investigates how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the sustainability of sports business models by means of a specific case analysis, conducted on M-I Stadio S.r.l., the service management firm that provides all types of backstage activities related to football matches performed at San Siro Stadium in Italy.Design/methodology/approachBuilding on interviews on its management team's direct experience and on archival data, the authors depict the consequences of the pandemic in terms of corporate governance, accounting choices and overall strategic business development through information triangulation from a forward-looking perspective.FindingsComplying with restrictions, M-I Stadio S.r.l. preserved its financial position by embracing digitalization, increasing information flows with partners and adopting a risk aversion behaviour. Overall, results indicate that the pandemic played a catalyst role in the transformation process of the football industry. Moreover, apart from the physical and virtual merge acceleration, well-being for athletes, society and the planet, transcending the gaming part of sports activities has also been taking place. The study also illustrates the foreseeable developments of sustainable sport management practices from a critical perspective.Originality/valueSince the San Siro Stadium management company might represent one of the forefront companies, within the sports industry, this study results should be conveniently taken into consideration by sporting authorities and international bodies, emphasizing the relevance of sustainability (i.e. environmental and social practices within the sports industry) and digitalization so as to better prepare sports organizations and to provide the overall industry with the tools deemed necessary to navigate this important transition in a smoother way.

A figurational approach to environmental sustainability in the context of sport.

Discourses around environmental sustainability and climate change are increasingly prominent in the sports sector, with a growing range of sports organisations developing policies to address these issues. This paper contends that figurational (or process) sociology can offer a useful framework for examining the development of policy as a process in the context of sport and, specifically, mega-events. The Olympic Games serve as an example for purposes of contextualisation, illustrating four interconnected dimensions of figurational sociology: lengthening chains of interdependence, established-outsider power relations, internalisation of social values, and unintended consequences. Further, the paper seeks to highlight the utility of a figurational perspective particularly when this is enhanced through the integration of complementary concepts, namely knowledge transfer, isomorphism, and diffusion of innovations. Thus, it is asserted that a blended figurational approach can help facilitate understanding of interdependencies and dynamic power relations across expanded stakeholder networks in relation to sports mega-events. Finally, the paper touches on the relevance of sport in relation to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals to highlight the need for policy coherence that is arguably unachievable without the understanding of stakeholder interdependencies and power relationships a figurational lens enables. Such understanding is therefore considered to be important as a foundation for the enactment of meaningful policy in the fight against climate change.

INVESTIGATION OF THE ATTITUDES OF USERS OF SPORTS TOURISM ON MOUNTAIN GOČ

In this paper, the authors analyze and investigate the relevant facts of the organization and management of sports and recreational tourism in the Goč valley. Today's tourists expect a lot from tourist destinations. So today's tourists are ready to pay more. For this reason, the marketing role must be crucial for sports tourism. Mount Goč in the context of sports tourism explores the potential of Mount Goč as a destination for sports tourism. Goč mountain, located in Serbia, offers a variety of natural beauties and sports opportunities that attract lovers of active vacations. The paper analyzes the geographical location of the mountain and its accessibility, and highlights the proximity of major cities and roads as key advantages for the development of sports tourism based on the opinions of users. The mountain offers various terrains for sports activities, including hiking, cycling, skiing and snowboarding, as well as opportunities for adventure sports such as paragliding and mountain biking. Also, the paper explores the existing sports infrastructure on Goč, including tracks, sports fields and accommodation facilities. The importance of further infrastructure development for attracting sports enthusiasts and tourists is emphasized. Then the competition and demand for sports activities on Mount Goč are analyzed, including a comparison with other mountain destinations in the region. Marketing strategies and promotion of the mountain as a destination for sports tourism are also discussed. Based on all of the above, the paper concludes that Mount Goč has significant potential for the development of sports tourism, but that it is necessary to continuously invest in infrastructure and promotion in order to attract sports fans and tourists and stimulate the economic sustainability of tourism. region through this type of tourism.

The Anticorruption Effects of Information and Communication Technology in Sport Organizations: The Role of Organizational Health Mediation and Organizational Transparency

This study addresses a topic neglected by the sport management literature: the impact of anticorruption effects of information and communication technology (ICT) in sport organizations on the role of organizational health mediation and organizational transparency. This study analyses this topic by presenting and testing a comprehensive theoretical model. This quantitative, descriptive survey uses structural equation modeling methodology. Data collection was carried out by employees (N = 384) working at the Iranian Ministry of Sport and Youth. The results of the study were processed using LISREL 8.80 software in the model and hypothesis testing, and the study found support for the theoretical model. The results show that (a) ICT is an effective tool for reducing administrative corruption of officials, and (b) in terms of both organizational health (variance accounted for = 0.40) and organizational transparency (variance accounted for = 0.39), ICT has a mediating role in reducing administrative corruption in sport organizations. This study fills a gap in the literature by addressing both personal and managerial perspectives, thus allowing directors of sport organizations to consider ICT a useful and practical management tool for reducing corruption among officials in sport organizations, as an adjunct to traditional methods such as administrative reform and law enforcement.

Managing Social Media Through Crisis: A Content Analysis of Instagram Posts Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract: Examining shift s in sport organizations’ social media content from before to during the pandemic-induced stoppage of play provides insight into digital branding during crises. Drawing on consumer-based brand equity and the context, content, and process framework, we examined adjustments made to brand image portrayal on Instagram and corresponding consumer engagement during the lockdown for two sport organizations at different seasonality stages. Results highlight how the National Basketball Association (NBA), facing the loss of their core product, utilized a need-based adjustment, while the National Football League (NFL) exhibited an opportunity-based adjustment. Analyses of consumer responses gauged the effectiveness of these two approaches, finding that the NFL was able to increase engagement, while the NBA suffered from declining engagement. Further investigation found that the NBA is still plagued by declined engagement since the pandemic, underscoring the importance of appropriate and effective digital branding during a crisis. While helping to fill the dearth of knowledge on how sport organizations operate under conditions outside of normalcy, this research improves our understanding of how social media content is managed during a crisis.

“In Soccer, We Have the Opportunity to Call Attention to Certain Things”: An Examination of Media Framing of Activism for Human Rights in German Sport

The goal of this study was to extend the contemporary athlete activism literature by (a) exploring athlete activism beyond a strictly North American context and (b) examining how athlete activism at an organizational/institutional level (i.e., sport organization) may be framed differently than activist efforts at an individual level (i.e., athlete). By examining two examples of activism in German soccer, we show that the framing of both athlete-enacted and organization-enacted examples of activism highlighted the importance of speaking up when human rights are violated, called for the display of solidarity, and discussed the broader political implications for such protests. Additionally, framing of both examples of activism included voices of criticism regarding the sport organizations governing global sport. As calls for accountability of sport organizations suppressing athlete expression are becoming increasingly common in global sport, this study adds to a shifting focus of activism research targeting the sport institutions that often perpetuate the various injustices individual athletes call attention to.

Understanding gender and sexuality: The hidden curriculum in English schools

AbstractSchools continue to produce regimes of gender and sexuality, including overt and covert curricula based on assumed essentialist differences between girls and boys, reinforced and regulated through uniform, sport and peer pressure. The recent focus on the experiences of trans and non‐binary children in schools makes visible the ways in which all children are subject to heteronormatively gendered regulatory and disciplinary techniques in everyday school life. This article discusses the findings from a pilot study drawing on participatory action research techniques with 42 young people in six workshops in north‐east England. Recruitment methods were required to be flexible given the context within which the study was conducted, which was with Covid‐19 mitigations in place. This meant that we were not able to be fully inclusive of young people from local youth groups as they were either not meeting or only meeting online. We thus had to mainly recruit from university student societies and student residences from which we organised three workshops; sports organisations from which we organised one workshop, and a local youth group with which we ran one workshop. The final workshop was conducted with young people who had attended one of the previous five workshops, to enable feedback on our analysis. All participants were over 16 years of age. The majority of participants were women (25) with 16 men, including one transman, and one non‐binary person. Most identified as white (31) with the rest identifying as Black, East Asian and British ‘Other’ (11). The focus of the workshops was to explore with young people their memories about where and how they first encountered being ‘gendered’ and/or having a sexuality. The data has been collected, recorded and transcribed within strict ethical guidelines. The workshop data has been analysed using a grounded theory approach, where we developed the theoretical models from the data. This article focuses on those key moments when their behaviours, presentation and/or ideas were subject to facilitators and/or regulators of their gender and/or sexuality. We draw out the contradictions inherent in, on the one hand, the essentialist rationales for difference and inequalities between genders and sexualities in schools and, on the other hand, the apparent need to enforce these ‘natural’ differences and inequalities. Participatory creative approaches were adopted in each workshop to promote conversations and drawings about who regulated/facilitated their gender and/or sexuality and how they did so. Each workshop cumulatively informed the next, leading to a sixth synthesising workshop that collectively analysed young people's reflections. Drawing on the conceptual frameworks of epistemic injustice (M. Fricker, Epistemic Injustice: Power and the Ethics of Knowing, Oxford University Press, 2007) and ‘space for action’ we conclude that young people want and need brave active spaces to discuss and ‘do’ gender and sexuality, and to resist essentialism and social control. Schools can be both places where control is created and entrenched and where it can also be resisted. Our research suggests that better whole school responses to dismantle regimes of gender and sexuality can be created by and for young people.

SPORT AND NATIONAL IDENTITY

Sports have the unique ability to unite fervor and vigor for a common goal. For his universal value, sport has the enormous potential to create a more positive and sustainable future for all. Sport is inseparable from society, and it’s also inseparable from the national feeling and national identity. Politics and sports are so closely related that it is difficult to imagine that they could be kept separated, with politics remaining unrelated to sports. There are various perspectives from which this association might be evaluated. Every national sports organization bases its operations on regional aspects and recognizes and uses regional social structures and cultural identities. In turn, the national association members refer to certain types of regional identity. The identity creation and expression process contributed to contemporary sports’ historical development and global dissemination. Sports can have different aspects on social life, and in this paper, we fundamentally focus on positive and negative aspects. Keywords: sport, national identity, positive aspects, negative aspects

IDENTIFYING AND DIAGNOSING THE GAP IN APPLYING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNIQUES SCALE IN MANAGING HIGH-PERFORMANCE SPORTS ORGANIZATIONS

Abstract This study seeks to evaluate the technician in the Department of Sports and School Activity in the General Directorate of Education of Baghdad / Al-Rusafa II, according to the requirements of the standard of artificial intelligence techniques in order to diagnose and identify the gap between the technical performance of this section with the requirements of the standard, identify the causes of the gap and propose effective solutions for it. The checklist was used to collect data and information according to the scale of artificial intelligence technologies with five axes (expert systems, virtual reality, smart agents, information technologies, and process automation). The Department of Sports and School Activity in the General Directorate of Education of Baghdad / Al-Rusafa II (case study) have a clear perception of the importance of the measure of artificial intelligence techniques, but the absence of financial and technical capabilities prevents the adoption of this measure in the management of the department, in addition to the lack of management of the department of an administrative unit to follow up the functional work And technology and studying the causes of deviation and the procedures to be followed for the purpose of controlling all factors affecting artificial intelligence techniques, and by examining the results of this study obtained from the checklists, it can be indicated that there are weaknesses in all the requirements that must be available in the sports and school activity section and according to the requirements of the intelligence techniques scale With regard to the axis of expert systems and the axis of smart agents, the percentage of matching dolls was (0%) and the gap for non-conformity amounted to (1). As for the axis of virtual impact, it is not less important than them, as the amount of the gap amounted to (0.9), but the amount of the gap for the axes of information technology and process automation is (0.3), which indicates that the Department of Sports and School Activity applies in its work to most of the paragraphs of these two axes to the requirements of the scale of artificial intelligence technologies. Keywords: Artificial Intelligence techniques, High-Performance Sports Organizations, Checklists, Gap-Size

Sports governance after the superleague judgment: going into extra time?

This paper argues that the Superleague Judgment creates the conditions necessary for the political process to step in and do its part in providing a much-needed regulatory framework for transnational sports organizations to exercise their powers in an accountable manner and in accordance with the values usually attributed to the European Sports model. Indeed, the key issues raised in cases such as the Superleague, ISU and Royal Antwerp, as well as in past cases, often require a regulatory follow up and implementation that courts are unfit to undertake. The Court Judgments highlight systemic flaws in the governance of sports that require a public framework regulating both the scope and nature of the powers of transnational sports organisations and ensure the democratic scrutiny and accountability of their regulatory powers. This can only be properly addressed at the political level. That should have been clear by now. Let’s hope that the Superleague, ISU and Royal Antwerp judgments will make it so.

Proposal for a New Sports Talent Identification System Based on the Tracking Phenomenon of Height

In sports talent discovery in Japan, a system has been built to effectively support athletes with contact maintained between regional and central sports organizations. However, while a certain effect has been achieved with this system, much still depends on tacit knowledge. That is, a discovery system based on scientific evidence has not yet been established. The system is especially lagging in terms of approaches from the field of growth and development research. The only such approach, as found by Fujii, is that height and athletic ability are independent phenomena, and if one wants to discover exceptional sports talent it is necessary to think about height and athletic ability independently. In this study, we attempted to analyze the tracking of tall and short heights in the junior (school-age) period from the perspective of physical growth science, by applying the application of the wavelet interpolation model. The results showed that a tracking phenomenon is seen with a high probability (about 90%) for both tall and short heights. This makes it possible to identify who will be tall and short in the future. Assessing the athletic ability of tall and short people independently and proposing a system that screens for people with high athletic ability can contribute to building a new system for the discovery of sports talent.

Sport Structured Brain Trauma is Child Abuse

ABSTRACT This article first summarizes research regarding the relationship between sports that intentionally structure multiple types of brain trauma into their practice, such as rugby and boxing, and the range of negative health outcomes that flow from participation in such sports. The resultant brain injuries are described as ‘now’ and ‘later’ diseases, being those that affect the child immediately and then across their lifetime. After highlighting how these sports can permanently injure children, it examines this harm in relation to existing British laws and policies concerning child abuse. The conclusion drawn is that neither children nor adults on their behalf are legally able to give informed consent for participation, and that impact sport organisations effectively groom children into sustaining and accepting brain trauma. Adults providing brain-traumatizing versions of these sports are thus described as being complicit in a form of child abuse that we term brain abuse. The contradictions in existing sports policy are highlighted, where policy describes that children are to be protected from harm, and yet the very practice of such sports creates harm by design. Implications of the argument are that children should be prohibited from partaking in impact sports.

Professional Experiences, Leadership Growth, and Progression Approaches Adopted by Women Working Within Professional Sports Organisations in Ghana

The study explored experiences, leadership growth, and progression approaches adopted by women working within higher professional sports leadership organisations in Ghana. An interpretive research paradigm was adopted. The data was collected using interview guides and analysed with the Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The study revealed interest in a particular sport propelled women in sports leadership positions to select sports-related careers and accumulate the best knowledge and experience that placed them in such advantageous positions to make meaningful contributions to sports in Ghana. The study established that women with clear-cut career advancement pathways have it easy when it comes to assuming leadership positions. It was recommended that qualitative and quantitative examinations be made to understand the differences in the experiences of males in similar sporting positions. Keywords: leadership, progression, approach, professional sports, leadership.

Investigating Factors Affecting the Development of Public Sports and WellBeing in Medical Universities

Background: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors affecting the development of public sports and well-being in Iran’s medical universities.
 Methods: The present study employed a qualitative design, and the foundation theory was used to construct a conceptual model for the research. The statistical population included professors of sports management, managers and experts working in medical universities and sports organizations, and physical education coaches and teachers in medical universities. Purposeful sampling was performed, and a total of 14 interviews were conducted until saturation was reached. The data were gathered using semi-structured interviews and analyzed by open, axial, and selective coding
 Results: The factors affecting the development of public sports and health measures in Iran’s medical universities were categorized into three classes, including causal, contextual, and intervening factors. In relation to causal factors, 13 sub-categories and four main categories were identified. Regarding contextual factors, 45 sub-categories were identified in 7 main categories, and with regard to intervening factors, there were 34 sub-categories under 8 main categories.
 Conclusions: The results of this research can be provided as a roadmap to relevant organizations, such as the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and all medical universities and their managers, to formulate effective strategies to expand public sports and improve the desired health outcomes.

Sounding the alarm: Occurrences of fraud in nonprofit community sport organizations

AbstractThis study examines the prevalence of fraud occurrences in community sport organizations (CSOs) and compares the organizational characteristics of CSOs that have and have not experienced fraud. The empirical analysis relies on online survey data gathered in Canada, the United States, Australia, and Germany (n = 1256). Respondents were asked if organizational fraud had occurred in their CSO in the last ten years. In the full sample, 12.2% of organizations had experienced some type of fraud. The results showed occurrences of fraud were significantly higher among organizations that support the local community, have a high annual budget, possess grant income, and perform large and complex financial transactions and among those who lacked policies for handling assets and cash. In contrast, occurrences of fraud were significantly lower in organizations with a relatively small annual budget, a plan for the education and professional development of board members, and at least two individuals handling cash or checks. The analyses of geographic subsamples not only partially echoes the results for the full sample, but also shows further significant differences. The findings reveal that fraud occurrence across subsamples does not follow a clear pattern, demonstrating that prevention measures should be tailored based on geographic and organizational context.

Impact of Coaches’ Leadership Styles on Sports Performance of Football Athletes in China

Effective leadership is essential in setting a clear vision and goals for a sports organization or team. A strong leader can articulate a compelling vision for the future, inspire team members to work towards a common goal, and develop a roadmap for achieving success. Leadership is the art of guiding, in an organized manner, a diverse group to achieve a common goal. This can be both emotional and rational. An effective leader always knows the strengths and weaknesses of his team as well as being attentive to threats and opportunities of sporting activities. Therefore, the role of the leader in sports is vital.

Exploring perceptions of performance support team effectiveness in elite sport

ABSTRACT Elite sport organisations are increasingly recruiting diverse and sophisticated performance support teams in an attempt to optimise athlete health and performance. These multiteam systems are commonly comprised of sport medicine and sport science personnel (e.g. physiotherapists, sport scientists, strength and conditioning coaches, nutritionists, psychologists), yet the effectiveness of such teams is reliant upon more than the mere aggregate of the assembled expertise. Whilst the multidimensional nature of team effectiveness has been investigated in other domains, such research pertaining to performance support teams in elite sport is sparse. A qualitative method of enquiry was used to explore performance support team effectiveness across a range of elite sports. Four online focus groups consisting of a total of 18 participants working in English Premier League Football, Formula One, and Olympic Sports (summer and winter) were conducted, and reflexive thematic analysis was employed to analyse the data. Four overarching themes were generated which are deemed to be associated with performance support team effectiveness: team structure (composition, geographic dispersion, hierarchical arrangement, and leadership), team member attributes (role proficiency, open mindedness, adaptability, and humility), shared mental model (shared objectives, role understanding, and contextual awareness), and social capital (trust, respect, cohesion, and communication). This study provides a greater understanding of performance support team effectiveness in elite sport which has conceivable implications for future research and also professional practice.

Technology Meets Sport Psychology: How Technology and Artificial Intelligence Can Shape the Future of Elite Sport Performance

Data analytics have become increasingly popular within professional sport organizations. Big data exists upon which decisions are made in relation to athlete selection and performance analysis. The data draw upon vary from big data and more idiosyncratic data that is contextually focused. We consider the importance of data technology in relation to the prediction of athlete and team performance within high-performance sport. Here we expand upon existing approaches to analytics, and why the prediction of athletes’ behaviors is often found to be ineffective. Recommendations are provided how sport psychology can offer insights for analytics departments.

AN ATHLETIC NATION: AN EXPLORATION OF MUSTAFA KEMAL ATATURK’S SPORTS VISION ON THE CENTENNIAL OF THE TURKISH REPUBLIC

This research extensively examines Mustafa Kemal Atatürk's profound connection with sports in Türkiye. Commencing with Atatürk's personal interest in sports, this investigation delves into how sports became integrated into the vision of the Republic of Türkiye from various perspectives. The study highlights the place of sports within the broader context of the Turkish Revolution and underscores its critical importance in societal transformation. Through this work, Atatürk's perspective on the fundamental principles of sports is thoroughly elucidated and linked to national education and cultural values. As a result of this research, Atatürk's relationships with individual athletes and sports clubs are revealed, shedding light on his personal dedication to and profound commitment to the sector. Additionally, the establishment of sports organizations, state support in the early years of the Republic, and the significance of the Physical Education Law in Atatürk's institutional support and vision in this field are summarized within the scope of the study.

The Use of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in Enhancing the Sports Viewing Experience

Purpose: The main aim of this study was to investigate the use of Virtual Reality and AugmentedReality in enhancing the sports viewing experience.Methodology: The study adopted a desktop research methodology. Desk research refers to secondarydata or that which can be collected without fieldwork. Desk research is basically involved in collectingdata from existing resources hence it is often considered a low cost technique as compared to fieldresearch, as the main cost is involved in executive’s time, telephone charges and directories. Thus, thestudy relied on already published studies, reports and statistics. This secondary data was easilyaccessed through the online journals and library.Findings: The findings revealed that there exists a contextual and methodological gap relating to theuse of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in enhancing the sports viewing experience. Preliminaryempirical review revealed that both Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) have a profoundpositive impact on the sports viewing experience. VR offers fans the opportunity to be virtually presentat sporting events, providing an unparalleled level of immersion, personalization, and interactivity.This heightened engagement contributes significantly to fan satisfaction and a deeper emotionalconnection to the game. In light of the consistent and compelling findings, it is clear that VR and ARare not just novelties but powerful tools that can shape the future of sports viewing. Sportsorganizations, broadcasters, and marketers should continue to invest in and explore these technologiesto meet the evolving expectations of fans, elevate the viewing experience, and unlock newopportunities for revenue generation.Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Uses and Gratifications theory,Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Flow theory may be used to anchor future studies onthe use of Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality in enhancing the sports viewing experience. Thestudy recommended that sports organizations and broadcasters to embrace and invest in Virtual Reality(VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) technologies to create immersive and interactive sports viewingexperiences; fan education and training on how to use VR and AR applications should be a priority.Many potential users may be unfamiliar with these technologies, and clear instructions and tutorialsshould be provided to enhance user adoption and for continuous innovation and improvement in VRand AR content and technology are essential. This includes refining the quality of VR headsets andAR devices, enhancing the realism of simulations, and developing new applications and features thatcater to specific sports and fan preferences.