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Sport Governance and Policy

Dr Shushu Chen

Introduction

The field of sport governance and policy has seen some important development, particularly in response to the increasing complexity of multi-level governance frameworks, the need for inclusivity, and the demand for more efficient management practices.
This section brings together eight academic articles that each offer useful insights into different aspects of sport governance and policy. These articles were selected for their contributions to understanding the multifaceted nature of governance, with particular attention to individual, organisational, and institutional influences. The studies cover a wide range of topics, including the role of individual board members in shaping governance at the community level, the challenges faced by organisations in implementing global anti-doping policies, and the impact of regional and national policies on health promotion through sport.
Collectively, these articles contribute to a more nuanced understanding of governance in sport, emphasising the interplay between strategic priorities and operational constraints, the influence of personal values and experiences on governance outcomes, and the importance of context-specific policy frameworks. This review synthesises the key findings from each article, with a focus on how they advance the theoretical and practical discourse in sport governance and policy.

Papers in this Section Review

Kerwin et al. (2024) examine how the personal experiences and behaviours of individual board members influence governance in Canadian community-level sport organisations. Using a qualitative ethnographic method, the researchers observed six boards over the course of a year and conducted interviews with 30 board members. The study identifies three main themes: the tension between operational and strategic priorities, the differing senses of community among board members, and the impact of individual power on board coherence. One of the key findings is that many boards prioritise operational tasks—such as handling registration issues—over long-term strategic planning. This operational focus often stems from individual assumptions and values, which can create power imbalances on the board. Long-tenured members tend to hold significant influence, marginalising newer members and limiting the board'sability to make cohesive, strategic decisions. The study also highlights the fragmentation in governance priorities caused by differing personal connections to the board and community. These personal influences lead to governance stagnation, where operational concerns take precedence over strategic goals. Kerwin et al. argue that traditional governance models, which focus solely on structure, overlook the crucial role of individual experiences in shaping governance outcomes. They call for policies that account for these individual influences to promote more inclusive and effective governance practices.
Van Hoye et al. (2024) investigate how national and local policies in Ireland support health promotion within sport clubs, which have the potential to act as health-promoting environments. Using the Health Promoting Sports Clubs National Audit Tool, the authors conducted a content analysis of 17 policy documents and interviewed 12 key policymakers. The study identifies 49 policy actions targeting health promotion in sport but highlights that many of these initiatives focus on individual health behaviours, such as physical activity and gender equity, rather than adopting a holistic, settings-based health promotion model. The research finds that most policies emphasise health education instead of making systemic changes within sport clubs to improve health promotion. This fragmented approach leads to inefficiencies in the coordination and monitoring of policies, resulting in limited impact at the community level. Despite strong policy frameworks, the lack of coordinated national efforts means that many sports clubs struggle to implement health-promoting practices effectively. The authors call for more comprehensive, cross-sectoral coordination and improved evaluation mechanisms to better integrate health promotion into sport clubs. Additionally, the findings suggest that health sector policies are more aligned with a settings-based approach, while other sectors lag in adopting such comprehensive strategies. Van Hoye et al. conclude that future policies should adopt a more integrated approach, considering sport clubs as holistic environments for health promotion.
Brazier et al. (2024) explore how professional sport clubs in England deliver health and wellbeing programmes within local communities and evaluate the effectiveness of their monitoring and evaluation practices. The study identifies 176 health and wellbeing programmes across football, rugby, and cricket leagues, with the English Football League and Premier League clubs representing for the majority. Despite the high volume of programmes, only a small percentage report measurable health outcomes, and the evaluation of their impact is often anecdotal, relying heavilyon engagement metrics rather than formal data. Most impact reports focus on case studies and participant engagement, while rigorous methods for measuring health improvements are largely absent. The research highlights a critical gap in standardised monitoring and evaluation frameworks, which limits the ability to assess the true public health impact of professional sport club programmes. The authors call for more structured partnerships between professional sport clubs and public health authorities to develop robust evaluation methods that can better demonstrate the health benefits of these initiatives. By improving monitoring and evaluation practices, professional sport clubs could play a more integral role in national health promotion strategies, particularly in addressing issues like physical inactivity and mental health.
Rich et al. (2024) examine the influence of regional policy on the structuration of organisational fields in the context of multi-level sport governance in Ontario, Canada. Using an instrumental case study methodology, they analyse 88 policy documents from 1995 to 2021 to explore how regional governments shape sport policy implementation. The findings reveal that regional policymakers play a crucial role in distributing resources and shaping accountability within sport governance. Specifically, the study identifies two main themes: the changing role of sport and the emphasis on accountability and responsibilities. Regional policy, influenced by administrative changes and shifting ideas about governance, repositions sport as a tool for economic development, particularly through tourism and community-building initiatives. This shift has implications for the roles and responsibilities of sport organisations, which are increasingly expected to operate self-sufficiently with reduced government support. The study highlights the importance of understanding regional actors' agency within the broader multi-level governance framework, noting that regional policy significantly impacts how sport organisations navigate financial and operational pressures. Rich et al. call for further research on the role of regional policy in shaping sport institutions and emphasise the need for policy frameworks that account for regional differences, particularly in decentralised systems like Canada’s.
McRae et al. (2024) critically examine whether Canadian national sport organisations are adequately addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, particularly Call #90, which focuses on anti-racism education and the inclusion of Indigenous peoples in sport policies. Through semi-structured interviews with 10 participants from eight national sport organisations and a document analysis of their safe sport and equity policies, the study reveals several key issues. First, manynational sport organisations assume that their existing equity, diversity, and inclusion policies are already inclusive of Indigenous peoples, negating the need for specific anti-Indigenous racism policies. However, the research finds that this assumption often masks the systemic racism faced by Indigenous athletes, with policies alone proving insufficient to address these deeply rooted issues. Comprehensive education and resources are deemed necessary to complement existing policies. Despite some awareness of these challenges, the study highlights that Sport Canada has not made the Call#90 a priority, resulting in a lack of funding and coordinated efforts toward reconciliation. The article critiques this lack of urgency, noting that it perpetuates settler colonialism by framing reconciliation as optional. McRae et al. call for mandatory anti-Indigenous racism training and stronger government mandates to ensure that national sport organisations meaningfully engage with the Call#90 recommendations.
Moreno et al. (2024) analyse the tension between policy designers ("thinkers") and implementers ("doers") in Chile's sport policy reforms from 2001 to 2022. The study draws from interviews with policymakers and a review of legislative documents to explore the reforms related to the National Institute of Sport and the Ministry of Sport, established in 2013. A key theme is the dichotomy between the Ministry of Sport, responsible for policy design, and the National Institute of Sport, tasked with policy implementation. The reforms, influenced by New Public Management, aimed to modernise the public sector but led to conflicts with existing discretionary practices carried over from earlier institutions. This friction between technocratic reforms and clientelist practices weakened the reforms' long-term impact. The study highlights persistent issues, such as political appointments and short-term agendas, which have impeded effective governance and created instability between the two bodies. Additionally, the analysis points to the challenges in balancing political motives, such as hosting mega-events like the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games, with the need for more efficient and sustainable sport administration. Despite efforts at reform, Chile's sport governance remains constrained by historical legacies and political structures that limit the potential for lasting institutional change. Moreno et al. argue that future reforms should consider the complex interaction between rules, practices, and narratives to better navigate the challenges of institutional change in the sport sector.
Read et al. (2024) explore the complexities of harmonising anti-doping policy implementation across diverse global regions, focusing on the challenges encountered by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). The study centres on the Regional Anti-Doping Organisations (RADOs) and uses semi-structured interviews with 22 RADO staff members and board representatives to identify factors that hinder consistent policy implementation among National Anti-Doping Organisations (NADOs). Four main themes emerge: socio-geographic, political, organisational, and human resource variations. Socio-geographic challenges include inadequate internet infrastructure, language barriers, and varying levels of athlete education, all of which impede the effective dissemination of anti-doping policies. Political challenges involve conflicts between national sporting priorities and anti-doping compliance, while organisational hurdles highlight the lack of operational independence for many NADOs, which are often integrated into government or sporting bodies. Additionally, human resource shortages and frequent staff turnover further complicate policy enforcement, particularly in developing regions. The study argues that WADA’s top-down governance model does not adequately address these localised challenges, recommending a shift towards more flexible strategies, such as enhanced collaboration between RADOs and the sharing of resources to support compliance.
Peng et al. (2024) explore the process of depoliticising football governance in China following the 2015 national football reforms. Using documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, the study examines the decoupling of the Chinese Football Association (CFA) from the General Administration of Sport of China to grant the CFA more autonomy. However, the study reveals that this depoliticisation process was incomplete, with re-politicisation occurring through the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) influence within the CFA’s leadership structure. The authors highlight three levels of depoliticisation—macro, meso, and micro—each of which involved different strategies to reduce government control. Despite the official reforms, the CCP retained significant influence, with the Party Committee embedded within the CFA, thereby maintaining oversight of key decisions. This created a tension between the desire to decentralise control and the reality of continued political oversight. The research contributes to understanding governance reforms in authoritarian contexts, illustrating how attempts at depoliticisation can be undermined by political realities, leading to a process of re-politicisation.

Conclusion

The collective contributions of the reviewed articles provide valuable insights into the evolving complexities of sport governance and policy. These studies emphasisethe challenges of balancing strategic priorities with operational demands, the influence of individual actors within governance structures, and the broader implications for policy formulation and practice within sport management.
One key theme is the tension between strategic and operational governance. Kerwin et al. (2024) reveal that community-level sport governance often suffers from a misalignment between long-term strategic goals and the day-to-day operational tasks that dominate board discussions. This misalignment is also evident in Moreno et al.'s (2024) analysis of Chilean sport reforms, where policy designers ("thinkers") and implementers ("doers") clash over governance priorities, leading to instability and weakened reform efforts. Both studies suggest that future governance models must account for the operational realities that constrain strategic decision-making in order to create more sustainable policies.
The role of policy in health promotion and equity also emerges as critical to sport governance. Van Hoye et al. (2024) examine how Irish sports clubs function as health-promoting environments but highlight the fragmented and inefficient implementation of health policies. Similarly, Brazier et al. (2024) identify significant gaps in the monitoring and evaluation of health and wellbeing programs run by English professional sports clubs. Both studies call for stronger partnerships between sport organisations and public health authorities, as well as the development of standardised frameworks for evaluating the impact of health initiatives. These findings underscore the need for a more integrated approach to health promotion through sport, which can maximise the potential of sport organisations as drivers of public health.
The importance of accountability and responsibilities is also a recurring theme. Rich et al. (2024) highlight how regional policymakers in Ontario, Canada, shape governance outcomes by shifting responsibilities onto sport organisations, requiring them to navigate financial and operational challenges with minimal government support. McRae et al. (2024) extend this discussion to the issue of equity in Canadian sport, showing that many national sport organisations have failed to fully engage with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action. This failure, particularly around anti-Indigenous racism, stems from the assumption that existing equity policies are sufficient, without creating specific anti-racism initiatives. Both articles stress the need for greater accountability in governance and the development of policies that genuinely address issues of inclusion and equity.Lastly, the challenges of global governance ‘harmonisation’ are addressed by Read et al. (2024), who examine the difficulties the WADA faces in enforcing consistent anti-doping policies across different regions. The study calls for more flexible, region-specific approaches to ensure compliance, highlighting the importance of tailoring global policies to local contexts. Similarly, Peng et al. (2024) analyse the partial depoliticisation of football governance in China, revealing that political oversight continues to shape governance despite official reforms. Both studies suggest that governance models in sport must strike a balance between maintaining global standards and adapting to local political, cultural, and organisational realities.
Future research can continue exploring these intersections, particularly focusing on how governance structures can better integrate inclusivity, accountability, and sustainability into sport management practices.

Annotated Bibliography

Kerwin, S., Trussell, D. E., Cheevers, R., Ritondo, T., & McClean, C. (2024). A critical examination of how experiences shape board governance at the community level of sport. Sport Management Review, 27(2), 197-212.
This article investigates how individual board members' behaviours and experiences shape governance in community sport organizations. Through an ethnographic study of six community sport boards in Canada, the authors found that board governance is influenced by dualities between operational and strategic tasks, the varying sense of community among members, and the power of individuals in shaping structural coherence. The research highlights the challenges of balancing top-down mandates with local community priorities, emphasising how individual assumptions and relationships can dominate governance processes, potentially leading to fragmentation. This study contributes to sport governance literature by offering insights into how individual board member values and interactions influence the effectiveness of governance at the community level.
Van Hoye, A., Lane, A., Vuillemin, A., & Woods, C. (2024). An exploration of national and local policies supporting health promoting sports clubs in the Republic of Ireland. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 16(2), 271-290.
This article examines how national and local policies in the Republic of Ireland support the development of Health Promoting Sport Clubs. Using the National Audit Tool, theauthors analyse 17 policy documents and conduct 12 interviews with policymakers to identify how policies are framed, evaluated, and implemented. The study finds that while policies from sectors like health and sport include health promotion actions, they often focus on narrow topics such as physical activity and gender equity, rather than a holistic, settings-based approach. The research highlights the need for better coordination and more comprehensive policy frameworks to enhance the role of sport clubs in health promotion.
Brazier, J., Foster, C., Townsend, N., Murphy, J., Northcote, M., & Smith, A. (2024). Mapping the provision and evaluation practices of local community health and wellbeing programmes delivered by professional sports clubs in England. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 16(1), 39-58.
This study provides an in-depth review of health and wellbeing programmes delivered by professional sport clubs in England. It maps 176 programmes and 36 impact reports from clubs across several major sports, including football, rugby, and cricket. The article highlights significant inconsistencies in how these programmes are evaluated, with most clubs relying on anecdotal case studies and limited use of measurement tools. The authors argue that more comprehensive monitoring and evaluation practices are needed to align these programmes more closely with national health policy goals. By presenting a detailed analysis of current practices, the study contributes to discussions on how professional sport clubs can be more effectively integrated into public health promotion.
Rich, K. A., Nelson, G., Borgen-Flood, T., & Pegoraro, A. (2024). Regional policy and organisational fields in multi-level sport governance. European Sport Management Quarterly, 24(1), 51-71.
This article explores the role of regional policy in shaping organisational fields within multi-level sport governance in Canada, with a particular focus on Ontario. It examines how political changes, regional government actions, and policy directions impact the structure of sport institutions and their policy implementation processes. Through a critical policy analysis of 88 documents spanning 1995–2021, the study identifies two major themes: the evolving role of sport in governance, and the accountability structures imposed on sport organisations. The research highlights how regionalpolicies significantly influence the availability of resources, strategic priorities, and the relationships between various levels of governance.
McRae, N., Giles, A., & Hayhurst, L. (2024). Safe sport for whom? Are national sport organisations addressing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action for sport through safe sport policies? International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 16(2), 235-253.
This article critically examines whether National Sport Organisations in Canada are addressing anti-Indigenous racism and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action for sport through their Safe Sport policies. Through semi-structured interviews with staff from eight National Sport Organisations and policy analysis, the authors identified three key discourses: the exclusion of anti-Indigenous racism in safe sport policies, the need for education and resources beyond policy, and the lack of prioritisation of the calls by Sport Canada. The findings reveal significant gaps in how National Sport Organisations address reconciliation, perpetuating settler colonialism through inaction. The study advocates for more explicit anti-Indigenous racism policies and culturally relevant training within safe sport initiatives.
Moreno, D., Sam, M. P., & Jackson, S. J. (2024). Sport policy reforms in Chile: The tension between ‘doers’ and ‘thinkers’. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 16(1), 21-38.
This study examines the evolution of sport policy in Chile from 2001 to 2022, focusing on the tension between "thinkers" (policymakers) and "doers" (implementers). Using institutional theory, the authors analyse the effects of reforms, particularly the creation of the National Institute of Sport (IND) and the Ministry of Sport (MINDEP). Through interviews with policymakers and document analysis, the study reveals that the dichotomy between thinkers and doers—created by New Public Management (NPM) reforms—has caused friction, accountability issues, and challenges in delivering effective sport policy. This research provides a critical lens for understanding institutional change in sport governance in developing countries.
Read, D., Skinner, J., Smith, A. C. T., Lock, D., & Stanic, M. (2024). The challenges of harmonising anti-doping policy implementation. Sport Management Review, 27(3), 365-386.
This article explores the implementation challenges faced by the World Anti-Doping Agency in harmonising global anti-doping policies. Focusing on the disparities between National Anti-Doping Organisations, the study identifies socio-geographic, political, organisational, and human resource factors as key drivers of inter-signatory variation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 22 Regional Anti-Doping Organisation representatives, and a thematic analysis was conducted to uncover the main barriers to policy harmonisation. The findings suggest that variations in resources, political agendas, and regional cultural differences significantly impact compliance, resulting in unequal policy implementation across different countries. The study contributes to sport governance literature by highlighting the complexities involved in enforcing uniform anti-doping standards in a diverse international context.
Peng, Q., Chen, S., & Berry, C. (2024). To let go or to control? Depoliticisation and (re)politicisation in Chinese football. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 16(1), 135-150.
This article explores the Chinese government’s attempts to depoliticise football governance, focusing on the 2015 reform aimed at separating the Chinese Football Association (CFA) from government control. Using a combination of documentary analysis and interviews with CFA officials, the authors trace the complex processes of depoliticisation and subsequent repoliticisation, showing how the government has been reluctant to fully relinquish control over football governance. The study reveals that despite initial efforts to reduce political interference, repoliticisation occurred through the retention of key decision-making powers within government-appointed bodies, reflecting a broader tension between autonomy and state control in Chinese sport governance. This work provides critical insights into the dynamics of sport governance in authoritarian contexts.