Sports Federations Research Articles

Potential impact of cold water immersion on arrhythmogenesis: a pilot exploratory study surrounding the Geneva christmas cup

Abstract Background Cold-water immersion (CWI) is gaining popularity and is regulated by sports federations with guidelines for various cold temperature ranges. Small studies suggest cardiovascular and stress reduction benefits from regular CWI, yet acute effects and cardiac risks remain underexplored. Purpose This study aimed to assess the impact of CWI on arrhythmogenesis among participants of the 2023 Geneva Christmas Cup, the world's largest cold-water swimming event. Methods Volunteers aged 45 and older were recruited through the organizing committee. Each underwent baseline cardiovascular risk assessment 10 days prior to the event, including medical interviews, physical exams, blood tests, and 12-lead ECGs. A waterproof ECG recorder (BodyGuardian Mini®) was attached to participants, monitoring them for 10 days up to the end of the race. An activity diary recorded training sessions, CWI exposure, and any symptoms. Data from BodyGuardian Mini® were analyzed for CWI-induced arrhythmias and conduction disturbances. The local ethics committee approved the study. Results Twenty volunteers (11 women, mean age 56 ± 6.4 years) participated. Their mean SCORE2/SCORE2-OP was 4 ± 1.8%, with 60% at low to moderate and 40% at high cardiovascular risk. Average weekly training was 5.5 ± 2.9 hours. Lake temperature was 7.0 degrees. One participant could not race but all completed CWI training and wore ECG recorders for an average of 226 ± 32 hours. Sixteen participants (80%) exhibited non-sustained atrial tachycardia (average 12.4 ± 8.8 events), and four (20%) had non-sustained ventricular tachycardia events (average 1.2 ± 0.5), with no significant pauses or >1st degree AV block observed. No arrhythmic events were directly linked to CWI. Conclusion This exploratory study of active, middle-aged participants with moderate cardiovascular risk found no association between CWI and arrhythmias. Further, larger-scale studies are necessary to conclusively determine CWI's safety.

Participation, barriers, facilitators and bullying experiences of trans people in sport and fitness: findings from a national community survey of trans people in Australia.

This study aimed to assess participation rates of transgender and gender diverse (trans) people in sport/fitness activities, compare mental health outcomes for trans people participating in sport/fitness with those who do not and explore internal/external barriers and bullying experiences faced by trans people in sport/fitness contexts. A cross-sectional online survey open to trans people aged ≥16 years living in Australia was conducted between February and April 2023 and it assessed rates of sport/fitness participation, barriers to participation and bullying experiences through multiple-choice questions. Mental health measures comprised the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and self-reported history of self-harm and suicidality. Covariate-adjusted binary logistic regression models tested associations between interpersonal factors, sport/fitness variables and mental health outcomes. Of 664 respondents (median age 32 years), around one-third (32.8%) regularly participated in sport/fitness. Common internal barriers to participation included anxiety about others' reactions (63.9%), body dissatisfaction/dysphoria (56.5%) and fears about feeling accepted/affirmed by others (54.7%). Respondents commonly reported experiencing inadequate bathroom/changing facilities (44.4%), exclusionary rules and regulations surrounding gender (36.7%), and invasive or uncomfortable policies or procedures (23.3%). Over one-third (34.4%) of trans people had experienced gender-based bullying or exclusion. Regular sport/fitness participation was associated with significantly lower K10 scores (mean difference=-4.4, 95% CI-5.8, -2.9, p<0.001) and a 40% reduction in odds of recent thoughts of self-harm and suicide (aOR 0.6, 95% CI 0.5, 0.9, p=0.01; aOR 0.6, 95%CI 0.4, 0.9, p=0.02). Trans people face significant barriers to sport/fitness despite experiencing significant mental health and personal benefits from participation. Affirming and including trans people in sport and fitness should be a key priority for sport and fitness federations, organisations and policy-makers.

Analysis of the organization and conduct of sports events in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the armed forces of the leading states – NATO member states with military personnel with limited functional capabilities

During the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine, servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, defending their country from the aggressor, received injuries of various degrees of severity, including amputation of limbs. After receiving injuries and wounds, servicemen go through significant psychological and physical disorders, which are difficult for them to deal with alone. Therefore, with the specified category of servicemen, it is necessary to carry out medical, psychological, and physical rehabilitation, as well as to develop programs for their adaptation to civilian life with the mandatory involvement of them in sports events. The Russian-Ukrainian war leads to an increase in the number of servicemen with limited functional capabilities. This indicates the search for optimal ways of their adaptation to the normal conditions of existence and functioning in the social environment and among the collective of their units and parts. Unfortunately, historical analysis shows that our servicemen with limited functional capabilities are in urgent need of social adaptation, especially with the start of hostilities on the territory of Ukraine since 2014, in connection with Russia's armed aggression against Ukraine. That is why various sports federations, public organizations and active public figures in Ukraine hold competitions involving servicemen with limited functional capabilities, namely; "National Invincible Games", "Strong of Ukraine", "Kyiv Unbreakable", "Hero Games", "Veteran Ten", "Invincible Cup" football, "Strong of Ukraine", "I am your hand" and others. According to the results of the performances, the best athletes with disabilities represent our country at international level competitions, such as the Invictus Games.

Female entrepreneurship in a sport context: unveiling the barriers perceived by women in leadership positions in a society of stereotypes!

ABSTRACT Purpose Despite the efforts that have been made by several institutions, women still find it difficult to develop entrepreneurial initiatives in sport. This study identifies the barriers felt by women in leadership positions. Design A qualitative study was carried out through a semi-structured interview systematized at three levels (macro, meso and micro) with 30 female entrepreneurs in Portugal, between January and March 2022. Findings At the macro level, social/cultural issues are found to have a great influence on women’s careers. They also present difficulty in coping with the regulatory and legal matters involved in entrepreneurial processes. At the meso level, men do not willingly accept communication and coordination coming from women. In addition, women are still very dependent on the family. Concerning the micro level, the cultural idea of women being the weakest link ends up influencing their willingness to take risks professionally. More training in entrepreneurship is needed. Practical implications It is suggested that government institutions linked to sport should make adjustments to legislation and provide incentives for women, particularly financial, training and logistic support, applying them in the context of sport federations, clubs and organisations, both public and private. Research Contribution The multi-level model proposed is fundamental to understand how barriers are related, and contribute to more conscious decision-making.

Sports Development Management in the Republic of Armenia: The Structure and Statistics

Sports is one of the many branches of the national economic complex and represents a complex and unique socio-economic system, the activity of which is characterized by multifaceted social and state relations. It should be considered that the management structure of any socio-economic sector of the state is largely determined first by the state policy, the very structure of the state. It should be organically integrated into the sports movement management system. The state body responsible for the development of sports in Republic of Armenia (RA) is the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (MESCS), which is entrusted with the functions of implementing state policy and legal regulation, as well as providing support to sports organizations and sports federations. The main goal of its activity is the formation of a positive attitude of society, the state and the entire nation towards sports as an effective means of maintaining and strengthening human health, an integral part of universal culture, and as a factor, especially in the physical and moral education of children and young people. The Ministry carries out the functions of state policy and legal regulation in physical culture, sports and youth issues and the processes of developing and implementing them. Along with that, public sports organizations in the form of NAOC of Armenia and national sports federations and units play an important role in the development of sports in the republic. Funding for mass sports and high-performance sports is increasing year by year in Armenia, which is aimed at increasing the number of events, as well as increasing the number of incentives for the achievements of people who do sports and high-level athletes.

Sudden cardiac death in athletes: A 20-year analysis in Portugal

Introduction and objectivesSudden cardiac death (SCD) in athletes is a tragic event, with some evidence remaining controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate cases of SCD in athletes in Portugal within the last 20 years. MethodsAn advanced Google search using a combination of several keywords and systematic searches on websites of national newspapers/television stations was conducted. Additionally, 54 Portuguese sports federations and the Portuguese Institute of Sports and Youth were contacted by email and/or phone. All sports-related SCD cases in competitive athletes, occurring between 2003 and 2023 in Portugal, were included. The total number of athletes at risk used for the calculation of SCD incidence, was collected from official national records. ResultsA total of 42 SCD cases in athletes were identified, with a median age of 27 [18;42] years, and the great majority were male (n=39; 93%). Most events occurred in outdoor sports (n=28; 67%), especially in football (n=13; 31%), athletics (n=4; 10%) and trail running (n=4; 10%), and during competition or training sessions (n=27; 64%). The higher number of cases were reported in 2021 and 2022, while in several years no occurrences were found. The yearly average SCD incidence was 0.39 cases per 100000 athletes/year. ConclusionsThe incidence of SCD in athletes in Portugal is very low, mainly occurring in male, outdoor sports and during competitions or training sessions. Due to the limitations of passive data collection, prospective registries are needed, with standardization of the most relevant data, especially regarding their etiology and circumstances.

Impact of Institutional Isomorphism on Gender Diversity on the Boards of Sport Organizations in Japan

This study utilized institutional theory to examine how the Governance Code implemented in Japan in 2019 increased the number of female board members in national sport federations (NF) recognized by the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC). Using the three mechanisms of antecedents that lead to changes in institutional isomorphism as a framework (coercive isomorphism, mimetic processes, and normative pressures), we conducted semi-structured interviews with board members of sport organizations and analyzed the obtained data using thematic analysis. The results revealed institutional isomorphism influenced gender diversity on NF boards and identified the mechanisms that promote gender diversity on the boards of sport organizations.

Analysis of Community Participation and Satisfaction with the Engku Putri Square as an Open Sports Space in Batam City

This study aims to investigate community participation and satisfaction with the Engku Putri Square as an open sports space in the city of Batam to find out how far the government has implemented the National Sports System Law (UU SKN) through the two dimensions of the Sports Development Index (SDI). Case studies were chosen as an approach to achieve the objectives of this research. Data were obtained through interviews, observations, and documents. The interviewees were 16 community members who used the Engku Putri square as a place to exercise. Observations were made on daily sports activities, the condition of the facilities, and the atmosphere at the Engku Putri square. Document data was obtained from the relevant SKPD, namely the Public Works Department (DPU) Parks section, the Indonesian Community Recreational Sports Federation (FORMI) in the city of Batam, and the Internet. Data analysis uses a thematic analysis approach by reading data, grouping initial codes, determining themes, and writing reports. The results are presented through a description of the environmental characteristics of Engku Putri Square, Batam City, tabulated results of community participation and satisfaction in several themes. Participation is the initial discussion through calculating the SDI participation index with intermediate criteria. Meanwhile, satisfaction is categorized into four major themes, namely (1) quality and service, (2) price, (3) emotional factors, and (4) convenience. Each of them was at a satisfactory level with several inputs as follows: (1) the need for additional sports facilities in the Engku Putri square, Batam city, (2) attention to the maintenance of facilities in the Engku Putri town square, Batam city, and (3) observing cleanliness in the Engku Putri square, Batam city.

THE ISSUES OF LEGAL LIABILITY IN TRANSFER RELATIONS

A transfer contract is a specific type of legal contract, which can be regulated not only by civil law but also by the corporate rules of sports federations. The regulation of transfer contracts in football is particularly relevant, as the Russian Football Union (RFU) regulates each stage of transfer relations in detail. Specifically, the RFU Regulations establish sanctions for violating the procedure of athlete transfer. These sanctions can be applied to both sports clubs and athletes. At the same time, the legal nature of these sanctions remains ambiguous, as the RFU is not a governmental body authorized to hold individuals legally liable. Nevertheless, the doctrine often highlights the concept of sports liability as a unique type of liability because the RFU has the authority to hold individuals liable under this type of liability. In addition to sports liability, the possibility of holding participants in transfer relations liable under civil law remains debatable. On the one hand, a transfer contract is a civil law agreement and, accordingly, the general provisions of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation on obligations should apply to it. On the other hand, questions arise about the possibility of combining civil sanctions with sports sanctions and about the possibility of considering civil liability prior to sports liability. In this article, the authors answered the above questions and structured the liability systems in transfer relations. Conclusions were made about situations in which sports or civil liability is applied, as well as about the possibility of applying both types of liability for a single violation by a sports club or a football player.

International sports federations as de facto lawmakers: Queer-feminist explorations of the gendered power of sports law

Abstract This article analyses the law-making power of international sports federations, with a specific focus on their authority of shaping global norms on gender. It explores a variety of international sporting rules from feminist and queer perspectives. These include the ban of rainbow armbands at the 2022 FIFA (Men’s) World Cup, rules on the participation of transgender persons in rugby, gendered and racialized uniform regulations in sports, and the Semenya case concerning the sports participation of women with variations in sex characteristics The analysis asserts that despite being non-state actors, international sports federations are de facto international lawmakers that disseminate hegemonic gender norms reflecting cis-hetero-sexism and white body norms. However, analysing the Semenya case and the decision of the Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights in the case shows that the law-making power of international sports federations in shaping gender norms is not absolute but embedded in a transnational network of norms. The article concludes that subjecting international sports federations to a feminist, queer, and anti-racist legal analysis assists in understanding how hegemonic norms on gender circulate transnationally and enhances knowledge on how international law works in practice.

Reassessment of views on public administration in the field of physical culture and sports in Ukraine under martial law

The scientific research is aimed at determining the forms of public administration in the field of physical culture and sports, in particular, at clarifying the peculiarities of this field in the conditions of martial law. In order to fulfill the tasks of the research, the author analyzed the forms and means of public administration in the field of physical culture and sports, determined the state of their legal regulation, taking into account the substantiated provisions regarding the need to increase the efficiency of the use of some of them in wartime conditions. According to the results of the conducted research, it has been established that public administration in the field of physical culture and sports is the activity of public administration subjects regulated by laws and other normative legal acts, aimed at the implementation of laws and other normative legal acts, including making administrative decisions, provision of administrative services established by legislation regarding the development of physical culture and sports. Forms of public administration in the field of physical culture and sports are systematized, in particular: issuance of normative acts of public administration in the field of physical culture and sports, their application and implementation of material and technical measures; provision of administrative services by carrying out registration, permit (licensing) and approval procedures in the field of physical culture and sports; conclusion of administrative contracts in the field of physical culture and sports regarding the delegation of management powers to local sports federations with the minimization of centralized management; implementation of public control over compliance with legislation in this area, detection, recording of violations and application of measures of legal responsibility. It has been established that in the conditions of martial law and post-war period, there will be following most effective forms of public administration in the field of physical culture and sports: attraction of investments in the reconstruction of destroyed or damaged infrastructure; further development and investment of veteran sports and sports aimed at restoring the physical and psychological shape of military personnel, involving the military in the sports movement and reviving the country on the international arena, as well as simplifying the system of providing administrative services in the specified areas.

Integrating scientific recommendations for the development and promotion of junior elite athletes in Germany – an analysis of sports policy documents

ABSTRACT This study examines the integration of holistic talent development goals into the sports policy documents of governmental and non-governmental sports organisations in Germany. More specifically, it analyses (1) the extent to which talent development and promotion goals of key actors involved in junior elite sport reflect scientific recommendations, and (2) how these goals differ between key actors. Different goal dimensions of holistic talent development were explored namely long-term sporting development, competitions, dual career, personal development and wellbeing. To this end, document analysis was conducted for 30 sports policy documents published by 22 key actors (federal and state ministries, sports confederations and sports federations) involved in talent development and promotion in Germany and analysed using quantitative content analysis. The results indicate that political institutions in Germany recognise and respect the autonomy of sports to specify their operational goals in talent development policies. The sports organisations’ documents present a fragmented picture in terms of the integration of scientifically recommended goals. While the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) largely aligns with holistic goals, no comprehensive and systematic knowledge transfer seems to have taken place to regional confederations and sports federations, in which organisational perspectives appear to be influential. This study extends the literature on knowledge transfer of sports science to a policy perspective and offers valuable insights into the integration of scientifically recommended goals in talent development and promotion policies, both for science and practice.

High-speed 0.22 THz communication system with 84 Gbps for real-time uncompressed 8K video transmission of live events

Terahertz frequency band (0.1 ~ 10 THz) can provide ultra-high transmitting rates for massive emerging applications. However, due to the radio frequency impairments and limited signal processing property of baseband devices, it is difficult for the current terahertz communication systems to be used in real applications. In this work, we report a 0.22 THz communication system, which can provide 84 Gbps air interface rate over 1.26 kilometers distance. Such a system is underpinned by three breakthroughs, namely, integrating the reported terahertz wireless communication system, redesigning the signal processing in baseband devices, and increasing the cut-off frequency and transmitting power of radio frequency component by parameter optimizing. Being applied to realize the real-time transmission of the uncompressed 8K ultra high-definition video in the 31st International University Sports Federation in Chengdu, China, this work is a leaping advancement to enable terahertz systems from experiment to promising applications.

Cost-Benefit Analysis in Sports Organizations

The Provincial Organising Committee, set up to organise local sports events, submits the annual programme of activities to the Provincial Directorate and the Sports Federation at the beginning of the season, has the programme approved and carries out the activities. As part of this process, it carries out the necessary procedures to appoint the competent organisation. In this study, the cost-benefit analysis of the organising officers appointed by the provincial organising committee was carried out. The research used the document analysis method. According to the results of the research, competitions were organised as school sports (athletes=186), sports clubs (athletes=112) and private competitions (athletes=523). The costs of the competitions were calculated and a total of 97006.98 TL was spent on organising officials (19995.36 TL), referees (39333.57 TL) and other expenses (23280 TL). Although cost-benefit analysis is not used in the dissemination and massification of sport, it is necessary to evaluate the results of the organisations that were the subject of the study. According to the results obtained through the evaluation of the collected data, both the organisations are carried out by incurring more costs than necessary, and the athletes who are ranked with the results of the organisations do not have a significant success. The results of the study will be communicated to the relevant stakeholders with a recommendation for reorganisation planning.

Physical test instrument: a development study for junior Karateka in the kata category

Good physical condition is very important for the karate martial arts branch, especially the kata category. Where physical condition is the main supporting factor so that the ability of kihon, kumite and kata karateka can develop properly. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a valid and reliable karate physical condition test and measurement instrument for the kata category so that it can be used in karate development. The purpose of this study was to develop tests and compile a norm instrument for junior category karate physical tests aged 16-17 years that can be used as a measuring tool to test the physical condition of karateka. Research and development (R&amp;D) method. This research was conducted at a karate dojo under the guidance of the Indonesian Karate-Do Sports Federation (FORKI). Small-scale trial subjects included 55 respondents and a large trial group included 114 respondents. The karate trial subjects were 16-17 years old (junior) and determined the trial sample with purposive sampling technique. Data analysis techniques using correlation tests, validity tests and reliability tests. The results of this study showed two series of karate physical test instruments for junior karate athletes (aged 16-17 years) male and female consisting of; V Sit And Reach, Hexagonal Obstacle, Stork Standing balance, Throw Catch Ball tennis, Two Hands Medicine Ball Put, Standing Broad Jump, 2 Minute Sit Ups, Multistage Fitness Test. The validity of the eigenvalue of factor analysis &gt; 1 and can be said to be valid. Reliability is done by re-testing or correlation between the same groups for two treatments. Based on the difference significance test, it shows that t-count = 3.617, df = 59 and P-Value = 0.01 &lt;0.05, which means there is a significant difference in the pre-test and post-test results. Based on this information, it can be said that the physical test instrument model developed is effective, so it can be said that the test used is reliable. In conclusion, 8 items of karate physical test instruments have been produced for junior kata karate category athletes, the preparation of karate physical test norms for junior kata category athletes, and 8 items of physical test instruments have been produced that are effectively used to improve the achievements of junior male and female karate athletes. It is recommended that research be carried out on a larger scope of subjects and a wider research location, so that this measuring instrument product is more tested for feasibility. Keywords: Test Instruments, Condition Physique, Karate juniors, Category Kata

Exclusivity and exclusion in sports: an economic appraisal following the judgments in European Superleague and International Skating Union

This article explores the economics behind exclusivity abuses of a dominant market position by sports governing bodies, building upon the International Skating Union and European Superleague judgments by the Court of Justice of the European Union dated 21 December 2023. After outlining the vertical market structure of sports and its network effects, this article sets out the various (economic and non-economic) theories of harm and benefit that come from exclusive dealing in sports. It also discusses how the effects from these theories may be quantified and what degree of freedom sports federations do or should enjoy when adopting and applying rules that could exclude a rival sports competition.

Transformational Leadership on Performance of Selected Ethiopian Sport Federations

Transformational leadership may not be positively and significantly affects the performance of sports federations, because sport organization unique nature is competitiveness and result-driven organization. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of transformational leadership practices on the organizational performance of some Ethiopian sports federations. Cross-sectional design was used to collect transformational leadership and organizational performance variables. The study was conducted in Addis Ababa City Administration, Ethiopia. The data was collected from Ethiopian sports federations participants (n = 95). Transformational leadership as a predictor variable measured by multifactorial leadership questionnaire and sport federation performance was measured by Australian national Olympic sporting organizations effectiveness. SPSS version 26 was used to process the data; robust method of multiple regression analysis was used to analyze the data p &lt; 0.05. The result of the study shows that idealized influence was statistically significantly predicted organizational performance (β = .26, p = .00). However, that inspirational motivation (β = .03, p = .54), intellectual simulation (β = .11, p = .12) and individualized considerations (β = -.05, p = .49) did not significantly predicted organizational performance. The finding of the study shows that transformational leadership idealized influence enhanced the performance of selected Ethiopian sports federations through inspiring trust, fostering commitment, promoting excellence, and cultivating a positive organizational culture. Ethiopian Sports Federation managers were advised to consider transformational leadership style dimensions such as inspirational motivation, intellectual simulations and individual considerations in their leadership.

Body Composition, Nutrition and Hydration Profile of Paralympic Athletes

Paralympic athletes are separated from healthy athletes by having various diseases/disabilities and using auxiliary equipment. This study was planned to compare paralympic athletes' hydration, body composition, and nutritional status. For this purpose, a comparison of branches, sex, and nutritional habits on training day and non-training day were examined by 66 professional athletes from the Turkish Physically Disabled Sports Federation included in the research. Demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, nutritional habits, and physical activity data of individuals were collected. Dietary, physical activity, and water balance scale records were determined to evaluate the nutritional, physical activity, and hydration status of these athletes, respectively. Food consumption data were analyzed with the Nutrition Information System (BeBis) in detail; energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, water, vitamin D, vitamin B12, calcium, magnesium, and iron were examined. Measuring mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) is a good indicator of skeletal muscle protein mass. While women’s MUAC was 28.9±3.8 cm and men’s MUAC was 30.7±7.0 cm, respectively. When the reference values recommended for healthy athletes are met, it has been observed that protein, carbohydrate, iron, and calcium didn’t meet the recommendations. Carbohydrate, dietary vitamin D, calcium and magnesium values were found to be higher on the training day than on the non-training day (p0.05). The hydration status of the athletes was found to be inadequate in all conditions of gender, branch and the presence or absence of training.

Knowledge Management and Its Relationship To Work Quality In The Iraqi Central Gymnastics Federation

The research sought to identify knowledge management and work quality and the relationship between them in the National Sports Federation in the game of gymnastics. Utilizing correlational correlations and the survey method, the researchers employed a descriptive strategy. The research community was determined from the workers in the National Sports Federation, numbering (120) workers. The community was divided into (20) workers for the exploratory experiment and (100) workers for the preparation and application experiment. The scientific foundations of the two scales (reliability and validity ) were used through the ability to distinguish, internal consistency and half-split. The researchers concluded that the prevailing work quality in the Federation has a set of constituent elements that the Federation must realize and work to balance between them to reach a better work environment that accompanies the activity of the workers. The researchers recommended that the Federation and the sample study must know the steps and mechanisms related to knowledge management and search for methods through which they can discover the relationship and impact with the performance of the working individuals and guide decision-makers in the Federation to the path that can be taken to reach that activity that links knowledge management and work quality.

Assessing the perceived importance and difficulty of implementing good governance principles in national sport federations

ABSTRACT Research Questions Little is known about how organizational actors who have assumed the responsibility of implementing good governance principles perceive their task. The study attempted to fill this gap by posing two interrelated questions: Do these organizational actors perceive codified governance principles as being important for raising the governance standards in their organizations? Do they consider these codified governance principles a difficult undertaking to exercise? Methodology Underpinned by the tenets of the institutional perspective, the study draws on goal-setting theory to measure the perceived importance and difficulty of implementing good governance within national sport federations. It employed a quantitative research design, collecting 268 responses from board members and paid staff from 26 European countries. Data were treated with IBM SPSS 28, while the principles were tested for internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha. Findings While transparency, accountability, and democratic processes were important and relatively easy to implement, social responsibility was considered the most important principle. Paid staff perceived implementing these principles as significantly less difficult than board members. The principles perceived as more important are easier to implement than those perceived as less important. There is a consensus that the four examined principles constitute an important set of governance proxies that are not difficult to implement. Contributions The study moves away from the ‘governance debate’ and focuses on what sport governance looks like in practice. It does so by going beyond single cases that illustrate how political governance (through codification) influences organizational governance by examining the perceptions of organizational actors from several European countries.