Sports Federations Research Articles

Mental health surveillance in elite Para athletes: early identification and follow-up of athletes at risk of mental health problems

ObjectiveThere is a lack of prospective data on mental health of elite Para athletes. The objective was to identify and follow elite Para athletes at risk of mental health problems.MethodsIn...

The Crises Facing Sports Federations in Libya

The study aimed to identify the crises facing sports federations in Libya, and the study community consisted of the heads of the committees of sports federations in Libya, whose number (150) members, where the study was conducted by a comprehensive inventory method, as their number reached (150) members, and the researcher built a questionnaire as a study tool, and included (37) paragraphs, distributed on four axes, namely the administrative axis, the technical axis, the potential axis, and the legislative axis, and the validity and stability of the study tool was verified using statistical methods. The results of the study showed the crises facing sports federations in Libya, the legislative axis ranked first with relative importance (78.4%), followed by the possibilities axis on the second place with relative importance (77.79%), followed by the third-place administrative axis with relative importance (69.48%), while the last place came the technical axis with relative importance (36.60%). In light of these results, the study made a set of recommendations, including working to provide appropriate capabilities for sports federations adequately and within international standards and levels, benefiting from the experiences of other countries in crises in sports federations and bodies, and taking preventive measures to face some of the expected crises.

Dead or Alive: How Amateurism Shaped Marathons in Norway, 1896–1906

The marathon in the Olympic Games in 1896 immediately inspired the sporting community both in Europe and in the United States. Some organizers sought to surpass the record set in Athens and awarded their marathon winners generously. In Norway, the main sports federation wanted to control the competition, and how it would be perceived. According to the Secretary of the Federation, the military Captain F.G. Seeberg, no participant should finish a long race in bad style, or even worse, dead. His organization managed, to some extent, to impose this partly aesthetic ideal on the many marathons during the following years. This restricted the striving for records, largely due to the shared ideology of amateurism among sportswriters and athletes. The story of marathons’ development in Norway and the rest of Scandinavia from 1896 to 1906 illuminates early cooperation and standardization in international sports, as well as national divergencies. More crucially, it details how the broader ideology of sports amateurism shaped a new long-distance running event due to its intensified attention to style.

«Нулевая» уголовно-правовая квалификация в спорте: отдельный вопрос в аспекте статьи 184 УК РФ

The author examines the issue of the current state and enforcement of Art. 184 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in relation to Art. 26.2. The Federal Law «On Physical Culture and Sports in the Russian Federation», which received an amendment in the form of an addendum on the manipulation of official sports competitions. Difficulties are revealed in the sequence of qualification of an act from the fact identified by a sports federation to the classification of a crime by a law enforcement agency. It is proposed to operate the concept of «zero» criminal legal classification of a crime” with a doctrinal definition that reduces the contradiction in the application of different sectoral legal norms.

Concussion and brain injuries in sport: conceptual, ethical and legal perspectives

ABSTRACT This special issue examines critical ethical, legal, and policy debates surrounding brain trauma in sport, focusing on challenges in concussion management practices and protocols. Brain injury concerns extend beyond traditional contact sports like boxing, encompassing sporting activities involving rapid acceleration, deceleration, and surface impacts, such as cycling and equestrian sports. Among such problems are the identification and management of brain injuries, the roles of officials and healthcare professionals, and the broader implications for sport integrity and athlete careers. The special issue is organized into four sections: ethics of concussion medicine, socio-legal aspects, sport ethical dimensions, and public health policies. Contributions discuss concussion management in youth sport, sport federations’ and athletes’ duties involvement in concussion-related research, strategies to support and enhance athlete autonomy, public health-informed brain injury frameworks, conflict of interest in concussion management protocols, litigation and liability in concussion research and collaboration, race and genomics in brain-injury scientific discourses, rule changes in sport to reduce head impact, the contextual nature of brain injury and athlete decision-making, the ethical use of genetic testing in brain-injury related research, marketing strategies to advertise tackle football to children and adolescents, and policy purposes and evidence underpinning concussion management practices. This comprehensive exploration offers diverse disciplinary insights, making it a crucial resource for sport humanities scholars, policymakers, and medical professionals. Keywords: brain injury, sport ethics, concussion, sport law, sport policy.

Promoting the participation of women: agenda setting in Swiss sports federations

ABSTRACT Following observations that efforts to promote female participation vary across sports federations, this study employs the multiple stream model to analyse agenda setting towards promotion programmes in Swiss sports federations. Through qualitative expert interviews in three case studies (football, ice hockey, and badminton), the study analyses why and when gender policies encouraging female participation at the grassroots level appear on a sports federation agenda. The findings show that the availability of external funding and the adaptation of external projects are essential opportunities for promotion activities. Engaged actors institutionalised within federations or emerging from personal commitment play a crucial role in seizing and exploiting opportunities. The study provides a conceptual contribution to the analysis of agenda setting of policies outside federations’ daily business and offers empirical insights to assist stakeholders in promoting women’s participation. Recommendations include involving committed individuals, especially in male-dominated sports, and securing (external) support to facilitate structural changes at the grassroots level.

Utilización Del Marketing Digital En Las Federaciones Deportivas Españolas

Utilización Del Marketing Digital En Las Federaciones Deportivas Españolas

Mapping the influence of government on the professionalization process of national sport federations in Iran

ABSTRACT This study aims to investigate Iran as a context to address the question: “How do the Iran’s government structures impact the sport system’s prospects toward sport professionalization?” This study used Nagel, S., Schlesinger, T., Bayle, E., & Giauque, D. [(2015). Professionalisation of sport federations – a multi-level framework for analysing forms, causes and consequences. European Sport Management Quarterly, 15(4), 407–433] multilevel analysis to identify potential sport professionalization causes and consequences and profile Iranian national sports federations (NSFs). Data were collected through 16 semi-structured interviews with Iranian NSF experts and analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach. The study offers a consolidated comprehensive framework for analyzing the professionalization of sports in the context of government influence within Iran showing how the systemic, organizational, and occupational processes are associated with leadership bodies (LB), presidential sport organizations (PSOs) and NSFs. Findings revealed that sport professionalization in Iran depends on the government, and policymaking conflicts between PSOs and LBs need to be addressed. This study delineates that sport professionalization consequences are not limited to NSFs and their member associations because the prospect of sport professionalization in Iran represents a means to achieve national outcomes such as soft power and society’s health. This study used Iran as a context to explain the influence of government on and identify new factors for sport professionalization.

Assessment of knowledge about the doping in the rehabilitation assistance of performance and recreational athletes

Background: During the activity of performance and recreational athletes can arise critical situations that imply medical rehabilitation treatments. In the process of functional recovery, the applied methods can be sometimes aggressive and intense. The lack of knowledge of forbidden substances may pose a threat for the athlete’s health and performance. It is of utmost importance that the medical personnel that care for athletes take into consideration the risks and effects of doping substances. Methods: A group of 53 physicians - specialists in the field of physical medicine and sports medicine participated in the written study. The investigation was carried out according to the Questionnaire for the evaluation of anti-doping knowledge. By means of 14 categories of simple introductory questions, the questionnaire allowed the collection of data on the doctor's seniority and job, age, gender and general knowledge about substances and methods of interest in sports. The data of the participants in the questionnaires were collected and entered into a Microsoft Excel database and were analyzed in the MEDCALC statistical software program version 12.7.0. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program, version 21. Descriptive analysis was performed using the means and standard deviations of PEAS Instrument variables and mean difference tests were performed on two-response variables along with analysis of variance (ANOVA). Results: The majority of doctors (40/75.48%) do not have information about test procedures for inert substances and almost half of them (25/47.17%) do not know the anti-doping rules and standards developed within World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Of the people surveyed all (53/100%) positively noted the effectiveness of anti-doping programs, but 18 (33.96%) of the respondents distinguished exaggerated actions in the mass media regarding the issue of doping and 35 (66.04%) of the respondents did not have accusations against mediating the issue of doping. Of all the people investigated, the majority (49/92.45%) are ready to report on cases of doping in the anti-doping organization or the sports federation. 24 (45.28%) marked agreement in these actions and total agreement - 25 (47.17%) physicians. Conclusion: In the evaluation of the knowledge of specialist doctors involved in the assistance of people who practice performance and recreational sports, a discrepancy in the knowledge about doping was determined. The development of strategies and policies by informing doctors from medical rehabilitation and sports medicine in the field of sports doping will offer athletes access to quality medical services and safe professional activity. Keywords: medical rehabilitation of athletes, doping substances, World Anti-Doping Code

Analysis of knowledge creation practices and organisational performance in sports organisations: a comparative study

ABSTRACT In today’s world, organisations that can improve and develop their intangible assets and knowledge will be successful in the face of changes and can ultimately improve their performance. Given that the effectiveness of knowledge creation is influenced by culture, independent studies in different cultures are necessary. Therefore, the present study was conducted to analyse knowledge-creation practices and organisational performance in sports federations in Iran and Poland. Two researcher-made questionnaires were used to collect data. Statistical tests including Mann – Whitney U and regression were used to the data analysis. The findings showed internalisation in Poland and socialisation in Iran are the main predictors of organisational performance in sports federations. So, the managers of sports federations in Poland and Iran should use different knowledge creation practices to improve organisational performance. In both countries, however, the conversion of knowledge into tacit knowledge guarantees the improvement of organisational performance.

Improving the Implementation of Sport Governance with an Analysis of Its Determinants: The Case of Sport National Governing Bodies in Switzerland

This research investigates new empirical routes to improve the implementation of sport governance by sports organizations. It asks the question: what determinants influence the decision of sport national governing bodies in Switzerland to implement sport governance? It builds on implementation deficits highlighted by benchmark analysis, an exploratory literature review and a description of the non-profit sector. This paper invites a reflection on the challenges and difficulties related to sport governance standards. The method builds on an exploratory, inductive and qualitative research design. The data comprise interviews with 10 decision makers of national sport federations and the national umbrella federation of sport and Olympic committee analyzed by theme-based coding. The analysis highlights five meta-themes associated with determinants: (1) strategic priority, (2) decision makers’ knowledge on the concept of sport governance, (3) sport governance issues, (4) resources, and (5) personal attributes of decision makers. The results and findings indicate that improving the implementation of sport governance is a multidimensional issue that mainly involves organizational and individual elements, and calls for a tiered approach rather than a “one size-fits all” approach.

Personal risk factors and types of sport associated with drive for thinness and drive for muscularity in NextGen athletes.

Professional and student-athletes are at risk of developing symptoms of eating disorders (ED), including drive for thinness and muscularity due to personal risk factors (e.g., low self-esteem) and sport-specific characteristics (e.g., sport requirements). However, limited studies have focused on ED symptoms among NextGen athletes (identified in Canada as élite or relève) who compete at the provincial, national, and international levels but are not yet part of national teams. As such, they have access to fewer financial resources and support from their sport federations, which can create additional stress for these athletes. The present study aimed to identify personal risk factors and types of sports associated with (a) drive for thinness and (b) drive for muscularity in NextGen athletes. These athletes (n = 254) aged between 14 and 25 years old completed an online questionnaire. Perfectionism, self-esteem in sport, drive for thinness, and drive for muscularity were, respectively, assessed by the Multidimensional Inventory of Perfectionism in Sport, the Sport State Self-Esteem Scale, the Eating Attitude Test-26, and the Drive for Muscularity Scale. Other personal risk factor (e.g., athletic status) were measured using in-house questions. Each personal risk factor was included in two multiple linear regressions, respectively, to determine which factors were most associated with drive for thinness and drive for muscularity. Analyses revealed that perfectionist aspirations during training were linked to a stronger desire for thinness. In addition, not being in school or not having a job were also linked to a stronger desire for thinness. Several variables were found to be associated with a greater desire for muscularity: being a male athlete, playing team sport, weight category sport or endurance sport (as opposed to esthetic sport), having elite status, being less satisfied with one's current sporting performance and having higher perfectionist aspirations during training. This study offers initial insights into the factors influencing EDs among NextGen athletes, which provides a foundation for deeper exploration and the creation or modification of targeted interventions. These findings can guide sport organizations in creating guidelines and programs to better support the next generation of national athletes (e.g., create programs to help athletes maintain investments outside).

The responsibility of sports federations to facilitate and fund concussion research and the role of active participant involvement and engagement

ABSTRACT It is generally accepted that we need more research into concussions and other injuries with potential long-term effects in sport because such research underpins effective, evidence-based prevention, management, support, and treatment. This paper provides an analysis of the obligations of sports federations to support and facilitate such research, as well as an analysis of the role active participants in the sport should have in the research process. The paper focuses on concussion and concussion research, though very similar arguments apply to other common sports injuries with potential long-term effects. The paper argues that sports federations have a moral obligation and a prudential interest in initiating, facilitating, and funding concussion research. This follows from their duty of care towards active participants and from considerations of reciprocity. The ability to discharge these research obligations depends on the resources available to a particular federation, but those who can discharge them should do so. The paper further argues that athletes and other active participants in sport should be involved in all aspects of the concussion research process from conception to design, i.e. that Active Participant Involvement and Engagement (APIE) should be a non-negotiable element of concussion research projects. This is supported by instrumental reasons, but also by philosophical argument based on standpoint epistemology and on ethical arguments related to the interests of active participants. Standpoint epistemology is the epistemological position that the knowledge a person has and can have depends on that person’s standpoint in the world. Keywords: Concussion, funding, participant involvement, sport, sport association, sport federation

The use of doping control data to administer sex-based eligibility regulations: an analysis of how the World Anti-Doping Agency and international sport federations violate data protection laws

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)’s World Anti-Doping Code (WADC) provides that anti-doping organizations, such as international sport federations (IFs), may use data from a doping control test to monitor compliance with sex-based eligibility regulations that regulate the serum testosterone levels of transgender and intersex athletes. This contemplated use of doping control data has been incorporated into the regulations of several IFs and is facilitated by WADA’s Anti-Doping Administration Management System (ADAMS)—a web-based database managed by WADA in Canada that contains analytical results from doping control tests and is accessible by anti-doping organizations. WADA’s collection, use and disclosure of personal information through ADAMS is subject to Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA). This paper examines WADA’s non-compliance with PIPEDA when it discloses doping control data in ADAMS to an IF for the purpose of the IF’s administration of sex-based eligibility regulations, and how a complaint about WADA’s data disclosures might be handled by Canada’s Privacy Commissioner. The paper also examines the application of the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation to IFs that seek to use doping control data stored in or outside of ADAMS to administer sex-based eligibility regulations. The paper concludes with the perspective that data protection laws can be used to challenge the implementation of sex-based eligibility regulations, alongside other human rights-based legal strategies.

Exploring the Organizational Identity Structure of National Sports Federations: What Makes a Federative Identity Structure Unique?

The study investigates the Organizational Identity Structure and Formation of Sports Federations with a Meta-Structure that has not been previously studied. The aim of this research is to address the questions of how sports federations possess an organizational identity structure and what roles external stakeholders play in the formation of these identities. While the existing literature emphasizes that federations may have organizational identity structures, the contents and formation processes of these identities have not yet been thoroughly examined. In this study, data was collected through semi-structured interviews with the managers of six different sports federations in Turkey. The qualitative data obtained were analyzed using content analysis. The findings indicate that sports federations typically have a tripartite corporate identity structure, namely “pragmatic,” “normative,” and “idealist.” Relationships with external stakeholders, especially with International Federations, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and sponsor companies play a crucial role in shaping the identities of federations. The study contributes to the understanding of the corporate identity structures of sports federations and provides new insights to the literature in this field. Additionally, practical recommendations are offered for resolving identity conflicts encountered in the management of sports federations.

Политизация спорта в современном мире: правовой взгляд на проблему

The article is devoted to the definition of theoretical and methodological approaches to the proper legal assessment of the processes of politicization of elite sports in the modern world. The generally accepted principles of relations between the state and sports federations, key Olympic principles, conceptual provisions on sport as a specific socio-cultural activity are considered. An analysis has been made of the systemic discrimination occurring in recent years in Russian sports, the main reason being the unprecedented political pressure of the political leadership of some countries of the “collective West” on the International Olympic Committee, the Court of Arbitration for Sport, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and international universal and regional sports federations. The author’s theoretical, methodological, scientific and practical proposals are formulated to overcome the politicization of world sports, and a model for the full implementation of Olympic principles in the decisions and actions of the International Olympic Committee and international sports federations in individual sports is proposed. The scale of the negative impact of the politicization of sports to ensure the rights of athletes, the efficiency and quality of sports competitions, and ensuring a non-discriminatory approach in world professional sports is shown.

Strategic assessment model of smart stadiums based on genetic algorithms and literature visualization analysis: A case study from Chengdu, China

This paper leverages Citespace and VOSviewer software to perform a comprehensive bibliometric analysis on a corpus of 384 references related to smart sports venues, spanning from 1998 to 2022. The analysis encompasses various facets, including author network analysis, institutional network analysis, temporal mapping, keyword clustering, and co-citation network analysis. Moreover, this paper constructs a smart stadiums strategic assessment model (SSSAM) to compensate for confusion and aimlessness by genetic algorithms (GA). Our findings indicate an exponential growth in publications on smart sports venues year over year. Arizona State University emerges as the institution with the highest number of collaborative publications, Energy and Buildings becomes the publication with the most documents. While, Wang X stands out as the scholar with the most substantial contribution to the field. In scrutinizing the betweenness centrality indicators, a paradigm shift in research hotspots becomes evident-from intelligent software to the domains of the Internet of Things (IoT), intelligent services, and artificial intelligence (AI). The SSSAM model based on artificial neural networks (ANN) and GA algorithms also reached similar conclusions through a case study of the International University Sports Federation (FISU), building Information Modeling (BIM), cloud computing and artificial intelligence Internet of Things (AIoT) are expected to develop in the future. Three key themes developed over time. Finally, a comprehensive knowledge system with common references and future hot spots is proposed.

The history of the development of French Savat boxing

This article highlights the history of the development of French Savat boxing. It is indicated that French boxing savat is a spectacular form of martial arts that is gaining popularity in Ukraine, and therefore the question of studying the history of its development is relevant. The purpose of the article is to get acquainted with the history of the development of French Savat boxing. The final recognition of the respectability of sawat came in 1924, when it was included as a demonstration sport at the Olympic Games in Paris. In 2008, Savat was recognized by the International University Sports Federation (FISU) - this recognition allows the World Federation to hold official university world championships; the first was held in Nantes, France in 2010. The twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the International Savat Federation in March 2010 was marked by a visit to Lausanne to meet the President of the International Olympic Committee, Jacques Rogge. FISav President Gilles Le Dugot received a souvenir with the image of the Olympic rings. In April 2010, the International Sawat Federation was accepted as a member of SportAccord (formerly known as AGFIS) - a major step forward towards Olympic inclusion. However, the history of the development of French Savat boxing was not conducted by Ukrainian scientists. Studying the specifics of this sport will allow a deeper understanding of not only the sport itself, but also the peculiarities of the worldview and aesthetic preferences of the French people. An in-depth study of the cultural history of Savat through a historical lens will help to more vividly present the uniqueness and value of this tradition. This can interest and encourage young people to engage in French boxing, not only young men, but also girls, and it will inspire young athletes to reach the heights of sportsmanship. Conclusion. If the Europeans discovered the French boxing savat a long time ago and are developing it at a high professional and technical level, this sport is relatively young in Ukraine. Therefore, the scope for research in this area is large. French boxing sawat is an interesting and spectacular sport, which owes its technical elements. Therefore, it is worth paying great attention to the study of various aspects of this type of martial arts.

Does the German sports system recruit coaches with a functional personality?—Attempting an answer by comparing German basketball coaches with teachers and managers

Currently, there is no theory that identifies the ideal personality type for sports coaches. The study’s goal is to gain insight into the personalities of German basketball coaches and use existing study results from other professional groups to make recommendations for the content of coaches’ education. Given the German Olympic Sports Federation’s emphasis on comprehensive coach education that includes personal development, this paper examines the relationship between a coach’s vocation and personality, filling in knowledge gaps about how coaches’ personalities appear. The analyses are based on a unique dataset of 360 German basketball coaches and data from the German Socio-Economic Panel Study (SOEP), allowing for a more in-depth comparison of coaches’ Big Five personality traits. Using SOEP data from the German general population, teachers, and managers as benchmarks, this paper investigates the relationship between different coaching license levels and distinct personality profiles, providing insights into the characteristics displayed by coaches at various professional levels. The analysed data indicate that lower coaching licence levels are associated with lower neuroticism and more agreeableness, whereas openness, conscientiousness, and extraversion are higher. When comparing coaches to the general population and other occupational groups, A‑license coaches have more characteristics that are similar with managers, whilst C‑license coaches have more parallels with teachers. Furthermore, examining particular traits and individual comparisons, it is transparent that C‑license coaches are more agreeable than A‑license coaches. The findings suggest that coach development programs should be improved by incorporating insights from teachers and managers to select coaches and update educational paradigms more carefully. The study emphasizes the importance of traits such as conscientiousness and agreeableness in coaching success and identifies potential areas for intervention to maximize coaching efficacy. In conclusion, this study adds to our empirical understanding of the complex relationships between personality traits, professional roles, and effective coaching on multiple levels. Furthermore, it emphasizes the dynamic relationship between an individual coach’s intrinsic disposition and professional efficacy, showing the importance of tailored interventions to improve coaching outcomes.

‘Less Democracy Is Sometimes Better’: Sportswashing and Hosting World Championships by Non-Democratic Countries, 1993–2022

In recent years, the concept of sportswashing, understood as the actions of individuals, transnational corporations or governments using sports to improve reputations tarnished by misconduct, has become increasingly popular. Organizing sports events is one of the main methods utilized by countries attempting to deflect allegations of human rights violations. In the author’s opinion, this view, prevalent in scientific and journalistic discourse, should be verified using quantitative methods based on available historical data. Therefore, this article contains the results of a study on the organization of world championships in Olympic sports from 1993 to 2022 by countries with incomplete democracy, defined by Freedom House as ‘Partly Free’ or ‘Not Free’ countries. The Winter and Summer Olympic Games were excluded from the analysis because they had previously been discussed many times in the context of sportswashing. A total of 1,064 world championships in summer and winter Olympic disciplines were analyzed, confirming how many organizational rights were granted by international sports federations to non-democratic countries. The results also included a detailed division into individual disciplines and countries and showed that while in the 1990s and early 2000s, countries with a ‘Not Free’ status hosted world championships sporadically, the number of such cases has significantly increased in the last decade. The conclusion presents reasons for this situation arising directly from sportswashing, as well as other factors, such as the decline of interest in hosting sports events by societies in democratic countries.