How to create a national sport strategy
A substantive and methodological perspective
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.35469/ak.2024.439Keywords:
National sport strategy, preparation, substantive perspective, methodological perspectiveAbstract
Purpose: Due to its numerous positive effects on individuals and society as a whole, sport has become an important socio-economic subsystem of the national environment. To regulate, develop, and monitor the impact of sport at national, regional, and local levels, countries often develop and adopt various strategic documents, which can be found under the name of national program or strategy for sport development at the national level. Due to the importance of understanding the substantial comprehensiveness of national sports strategies (NSS) and the precision of the methodological-processual approach, the purpose of the present paper is to present a methodological and substantive view of the process of creating NSS and to develop a comprehensive concept (model) that appropriately places the substantive part in the phases of the process.
Method: The methodology of writing conceptual research papers was used. This approach provides a bridge or link between different concepts and scientific disciplines. The methodological approach was the “model paper” which aims to provide a theoretical framework that predicts relationships between concepts. A model paper identifies connections between constructs and introduces new constructs.
Findings: The development of the substantive model for the preparation of the NSS revealed that the comprehensive sport system at the national level can be understood within the framework of five substructures (financial, organizational, developmental, material, and program) that contribute significantly to the development and implementation of activities related to sport and physical activity. They are interconnected and interdependent and are surrounded by a so-called integrity framework that protects the sport system from the deviations of modern society. The methodological process model reveals that for the implementation of the process of NSS preparation, the most appropriate is the strategic management methodology, which enables accurate and efficient management of planning, organization, implementation, and control of the NSS. The combination of both perspectives (substantive and methodological) enables the development of a comprehensive concept (model) of NSS preparation.
Conclusions: The developed concept (model) of the NSS preparation comprehensively covers the issue of the NSS preparation management and is dialectical, open, flexible, and repeatable, enabling future users to manage the NSS preparation in a substantive-holistic and process-effective manner.
References
Andreff, W. (2009, July). Public and private sport financing in Europe: the impact of financial crisis. In W. Andreff (Chair), 84th Western Economic Association International Conference, Vancouver.
Andreff, W., Bourg, J. F., Halba, B., & Nys, J. F. (1994). The Economic Importance of Sport in Europe: Financing and Economic Impact. Strasbourg: Council of Europe.
Andrijašević, S. (1999). Sport kao javno dobro. Ekonomski aspekti sporta i turizma [Sport as a public good. Economic aspects of sport and tourism]. Zagreb: Fakultet za fizičku kulturo.
Bednarik, J., Andreff, W., Popović, S., Jakšić, D., Kolar, E., & Jurak, G. (2013). Financial taxonomy of non-governmental sports organizations. Kinesiology: international scientific journal of kinesiology and sport, 45(2), 241-251. Retrieved from https://hrcak.srce.hr/file/166573
Bednarik, J., Simoneti, M., Kolenc, M., & Šugman, R. (2000). Analiza organiziranosti in financiranja slovenskih športnih organizacij. Nekatere značilnosti financiranja slovenskih športnih organizacij v letu 1998 [Analysis of the organisation and financing of Slovenian sports organisations. Some characteristics of financing in Slovenian sports organisations in 1998]. Ljubljana: UL, Fakulteta za šport.
Beunen, G., Lefevre, J., Claessens, A. L., Lysens, R., Maes, H., Renson, R., … Van Den Bossche, C. (1992). Age-specific correlations analyses of longitudinal physical fitness in men. European Journal of Applied Physiology and Occupational Physiology, 64, 538-545. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00843765
Black, N., Johnston, D. W., Propper, C., & Shields, M. A. (2019). The effect of school sports facilities on physical activity, health and socioeconomic status in adulthood. Social Science & Medicine, 220(1), 120–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2018.10.025
Boreham, C. & Riddoch, C. (2001). The physical activity, fitness and health of children. Journal of Sports Sciences, 19(12), 915-929. https://doi.org/10.1080/026404101317108426
Cabane, C. & Lechner, M. (2015). Physical activity of adults: A survey of correlates, determinants, and effects. Jahrbücher Für Nationalökonomie Und Statistik, 235(4–5), 376–402. https://doi.org/10.1515/jbnst-2015-4-504
Chappelet, J. L., & Mrkonjic, M. (2013). Existing governance principles in sport: A review of published literature. In J. Alm (Ed.), Action for good governance in international sports organisations. Final report (pp. 222–239). Copenhagen: Play the Game/Danish Institute for Sports Studies. Retrieved from https://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:1405470/FULLTEXT01.pdf
Chelladurai, P. (1992). A Classification of Sport and Physical Activity Services: Implications for Sport Management. Journal of Sport Management, 6(1), 38-51. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsm.6.1.38
Coughlan, D., Saint-Maurice, P. F., Carlson, S. A & Matthews, C. E. (2021). Leisure time physical activity throughout adulthood is associated with lower medicare costs: evidence from the linked NIH-AARP diet and health study cohort. BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjsem-2021-001038
Craigie, A. M., Matthews, J. N. S., Rugg-Gunn, A. J., Lake, A. A., Mathers, J. C. & Adamson, A. J., (2009). Raised adolescent body mass index predicts the development of adiposity and a central distribution of body fat in adulthood: a longitudinal study. Obesity Facts, 2(3), 150–156. https://doi.org/10.1159/000218092
Currie, C., Roberts, C., Morgan, A., Smith, R., Settertobulte, W. & Samdal, O. (Eds.). (2004). Young people’s health in context. Health behavior in school-aged children (HBSC) study: international report from the 2001/2002 survey. (Health policy for children and adolescents, no. 4). Copenhagen: World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe. Retrieved from https://iris.who.int/bitstream/handle/10665/107560/e82923.pdf?sequence=1
Dallmeyer, S., Wicker, P., & Breuer, C. (2018). The relationship between sport-related government spending and sport and exercise participation: The role of funding size, period, and consistency. International Journal of Health Promotion and Education, 56(4-5), 237-247. https://doi.org/10.1080/14635240.2018.1452623
De Knop, P., Van Meerbeek, R., Vanreusel, B., Laporte, W., Theeboom, M., Wittock, H. & De Martelaer, K. (1996). Sports Clubs in Crisis? The Flamish Situation. European Journal for Sport Management, 2(2), 36-53.
Downward, P. & Rasciute, S. (2011). Does sport make you happy? An analysis of the well‐being derived from sports participation. International Review of Applied Economics, 25(3), 331-348. https://doi.org/10.1080/02692171.2010.511168
Eksteen, E. (2014). Sport Organization and Administration (1st edition). Bookoon.com.
EUPAG (2008). EU physical activity guidelines: Recommended Policy Actions in Support of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity. Brussels: European Commission.
European Charter on Sport (1992). 7th Conference of European Ministers Responsible for Sports within the Council of Europe, Rhodes, May 15, 1992.
European Commission, (2018). Special Eurobarometer 472: Sport and physical activity (March 2018 Wave EB88.4).
EUROPOP, (2023). Population projections in the EU. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Population_projections_in_the_EU#Demographic_future_.E2.80.94_a_greying_population
Eurostat (2022). Government expenditure on recreational and sporting services. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Government_expenditure_on_recreational_and_sporting_services
Gilson, L. L. & Goldberg, C. B. (2015). Editors’ Comment: So, What Is a Conceptual Paper? Group & Organization Management, 40(2), 127-130. https://doi.org/10.1177/1059601115576425
Gómez, S., Opazo, M., & Marti, C. (2008). Structural characteristics of sport organizations: main trends in the academic discussion. Madrid: IESE Business School – University of Navarra. Retrieved from https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1116226
Green, B. C., & Chalip, L. (1998). Sport tourism as the celebration of subculture. Annals of Tourism Research, 25(2), 275–291. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0160-7383(97)00073-X
Grix, J., & Carmichael, F. (2012). Why do governments invest in elite sport? A polemic. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 4(1), 73–90. https://doi.org/10.1080/19406940.2011.627358
Guo, D. (2022). Sports Facilities Investment Based on Multi-objective Optimization and Attribute Decision-Making. Mathematical Problems in Engineering, 2022, Article ID 9051076. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/9051076
Haug, E., Torsheim, T., & Samdal, O. (2009). Local school policies increase physical activity in Norwegian secondary schools. Health Promotion International, 25(1), 63-72. https://doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dap040
Hickson, D. J., Miller, S. J., & Wilson, D. C. (2003). Planned or prioritized? Two options in managing the implementation of strategic decision-making: Process perspectives the implementation of strategic decisions. Journal of Management Studies, 40(7), 1803–1836. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6486.00401
Hobsbawm, E. J. (1993). Nacije i nacionalizam: program, mit, stvarnost [Nations and nationalism: programme, myth, reality]. Zagreb: Novi Liber.
Hudson, S. (2003). Sport and adventure tourism. New York, London, Oxford: Haworth Hospitality.
Humphreys, B. R., Mcleod, L., & Ruseski, J. E. (2013). Physical activity and health outcomes: Evidence from Canada. Health Economics, 23(1), 33–54. https://doi.org/10.1002/hec.2900
Huston, S. L., Evenson, K. R., Bors, P., & Gizlice, Z. (2003). Neighbourhood environment, access to places for activity and leisure time physical activity in a diverse North Carolina population. American Journal of Health Promotion, 18(1), 58–69. https://doi.org/10.4278/0890-1171-18.1.58
Jaakkola, E. (2020). Designing conceptual articles: four approaches. AMS Review, 10, 18-26, https://doi.org/10.1007/s13162-020-00161-0
Jurak, G., Andreff, W., Popović, S., Jakšić, D. & Bednarik, J. (2014). The impact of the global economic crisis on the finances of non-governmental sport organizations in Slovenia remains to be seen. Motriz, Rio Claro, 20(2), 131-142. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1980-65742014000200002
Jurak, G., Bednarik, J., Kolenc, M., & Kolar, E. (2010). Analiza ekonomskih učinkov športa v Republiki Sloveniji [Analysis of the economic impact of sport in the Republic of Slovenia]. In E. Kolar, G. Jurak, & M. Kovač (Eds.) Analiza nacionalnega programa športa v Republiki Sloveniji 2000 – 2010 [Analysis of the National Programme for Sport in the Republic of Slovenia 2000 - 2010] (pp 61-83). Ljubljana: Univerza v Ljubljani, Fakulteta za šport.
Kihl, L. A. (2019). Sport integrity systems. In D. Shilbury & L. Ferkins (Eds.), Routledge Handbook of Sport Governance. London: Routledge.
Kohl III, H. W. & Cook, H. D. (2013). Educating the Student Body. Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School. Washington: The National Academies Press.
Kolar, E. (2005). Model vrednotenja športnih panog v Republiki Sloveniji z vidika vrhunskega športnega rezultata [Model for valuation of sports disciplines on the basis of the elite sports results in Slovenia]. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation), Ljubljana: Univerza v Ljubljani, Fakulteta za šport.
Kolar, E. (2010). Povezanost ukrepov in merjenih učinkov Nacionalnega programa športa v Republiki Sloveniji (2000) [The coherence of the measures and measured impacts of the National Programme for Sport in the Republic of Slovenia (2000)]. In E. Kolar, G. Jurak, & M. Kovač (Eds.), Analiza nacionalnega programa športa v Republiki Sloveniji 2000 – 2010 [Analysis of the National Programme for Sport in the Republic of Slovenia 2000 - 2010] (pp. 305-335). Ljubljana: Univerza v Ljubljani, Fakulteta za šport.
Kolar, E. (2023). Strateški management športnih organizacij [Strategic management of sports organisations]. In P. Šprajc (Ed.). Management v športu : izbrana poglavja (pp. 107-146). Maribor: Univerza v Mariboru, Univerzitetna založba,.
Kolar, E., Bednarik, J., Jurak, G, & Rajšter, M. (2010). Analiza javnofinančnih vidikov športa v Republiki Sloveniji [Analysis of the public finance aspects of sport in the Republic of Slovenia]. In E. Kolar, G. Jurak, & M. Kovač (Eds.), Analiza nacionalnega programa športa v Republiki Sloveniji 2000 – 2010 [Analysis of the National Programme for Sport in the Republic of Slovenia 2000 - 2010] (pp. 47-60). Ljubljana: Univerza v Ljubljani, Fakulteta za šport.
Kolar, E., Bednarik, J., Kovač, M., & Jurak, G. (2010). The preparation of the proposal of National programme for sport in Slovenia for the next decade. Exercise and Quality of Life, 2(2), 31-41. Retrieved from https://www.eqoljournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/EQOL_2_2_d.pdf
Kolar, E. & Jurak, G. (2014). Strateški management športnih organizacij [Strategic management of sports organisations]. Koper: Znanstveno-raziskovalno središče, Univerzitetna založba Annales.
Kolar, E. & Zaletel, Z. (2013). Management (športnih) prireditev [Management of (sport) events]. Ljubljana: Agencija Poti d.o.o.
Kovač, M., Doupona Topič, M., Starc, G., Kolar, E., Jurak, G., Bučar Pajek, M., … Strel, J. (2004). Šport v vlogi narodne identitete Slovencev. Končno poročilo ciljno raziskovalnega projekta [Sport as a national identity of Slovenes. Final report of the targeted research programme]. Univerza v Ljubljani. Fakulteta za šport.
Kristan, S. (2002). Filozofski odmev [A philosophical echo]. Šport, 50(2), 36-39.
Larive, J. (1994). The European community and sports. European Journal for Sport Management, 1(1), 58-64.
Lobstein, T., Jackson-Leach, R. Powis, J., Brinsden, H. & Gray, M. (2023). World Obesity Atlas 2023. London: World Obesity Federation.
Mackay, B., Arevuo, M., Mackay, D., & Meadows, M. (2020). Strategy. Theory, Practice, Implementation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Marques, A., Peralta, M., Gouveia, É. R., Martins, J., Sarmento, H. & Gomez-Baya, D. (2020). Leisure-time physical activity is negatively associated with depression symptoms independently of the socioeconomic status. European Journal of Sport Science, 20(9), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2019.1701716
Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, (2022). Conditions, rules and criteria for registration and categorization of athletes in the Republic of Slovenia. Retrieved from https://www.olympic.si/sportniki/registracija-in-kategorizacija
Morton, K. L., Atkin, A. J., Corder, K., Suhrcke, M., & Van Sluijs, E. M. F. (2016). The school environment and adolescent physical activity and sedentary behaviour: a mixed studies systematic review. Obesity Reviews, 17(2), 142–158. https://doi.org/10.1111/obr.12352
Müller-Stewens, G. (2020). The New Strategist. Shape your organization and stay ahead of change. London: KoganPage.
Nazarov, V., Kalantarly, N., Hajiyev, J., Hasanova, G. & Hashimova, A. (2023). Influence of general government expenditure on the development of sports entrepreneurship: The case of some OECD countries. Problems and Perspectives in Management, 21(2), 336-346. https://doi.org/10.21511/ppm.21(2).2023.33
Nessel, K. (2021). Balancing mass sports participation and elite sports performance: heterogeneity of the EU countries. Journal of Physical Education and Sport, 21(2), 1156–1164. https://www.doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2021.s2146
Ng, M., Fleming, T., Robinson, M., Thomson, B., Graetz, N., Margono, C., ... Gakidou, E. (2014). Global, Regional, and National Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adults during 1980–2013: A Systematic Analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. The Lancet, 384(9945), 766-781. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(14)60460-8
Pauna, R. D., Pintea, A., Lazar, P. S., & Maiar, D. (2020). The effects of financing sports activities on international sports performance and on the population’s health. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 10(10), 950-965. https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v10-i10/7910
Pfister, G., Mintert, S.-M., & Lenneis, V. (2018). One is not born, but rather becomes a fan: The socialization of female football fans—a case study in Denmark. In G. Pfister & S. Pope (Eds.), Female Football Players and Fans. Football Research in an Enlarged Europe (pp. 211–240). Palgrave Macmillan.
Pišot R. (2022). Physical Inactivity - the Human Health's Greatest Enemy. Slovenian Journal of Public Health, 61(1), 1-5. https://doi.org/10.2478/sjph-2022-0002.
Planellas, M., & Muni, A. (2020). Strategic Decision. The 30 most useful models. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Pope, J. (1996). The TI Source Book. Berlin: Transparency International.
Prudky, I. (2022). The social and economic importance of sports. Naše Gospodarstvo/Our Economy, 68(3), 61-71. https://doi.org/10.2478/ngoe-2022-0018
Rigby, D., & Bilodeau, B. (2018). Management Tools & Trends. New York, Boston: Bain & Company, Inc. Retrieved from https://www.bain.com/contentassets/caa40128a49c4f34800a76eae15828e3/bain_brief-management_tools_and_trends.pdf
Roux, A. V. D., Evenson, K. R., McGinn, A. P., Brown, D. G., Moore, L., Brines, S., & Jacobs, D. R., Jr. (2007). Availability of recreational resources and physical activity in adults. American Journal of Public Health, 97(3), 493–499. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2006.087734
Rozman, R. & Stare, A. (2008). Projektni management ali ravnateljevanje projektov [Project management]. Ljubljana, Slovenija: Ekonomska fakulteta.
Rumelt, R. (2013). Good Strategy / Bad Strategy. London: Profile Books LTD.
Sallis, J. F., Prochaska, J. J., & Taylor, W. C. (2000). A review of correlates of physical activity of children and adolescents. Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise, 32(5), 963–975. Retrieved from https://journals.lww.com/acsm-msse/fulltext/2000/05000/a_review_of_correlates_of_physical_activity_of.14.aspx
Special Olympics Australia, (2024). Special Olympics & Paralympics: What’s the Difference? Retrieved from https://media.specialolympics.org/resources/brand-awareness-and-communication/marketing/Special-Olympics-and-Paralympics-Fact-Sheet.pdf
Steele, R. M., Brage, S., Corder, K., Wareham, N. J., & Ekelund, U. (2008). Physical activity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and the metabolic syndrome in youth. Journal of Applied Physiology, 105(1), 342–351. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00072.2008
Storm, R. K., & Jakobsen, T. G. (2024). Does international elite sporting success or hosting major events affect self-rated health? An examination of potential positive externalities related to international sporting tournaments. Managing Sport and Leisure, 29(2), 187-204. https://doi.org/10.1080/23750472.2021.2004914
Strel, J., Kovač, M. & Jurak, G. (2004). Study on young people's lifestyle and sedentariness and the role of sport in the context of education and as a means of restoring the balance. Case of Slovenia - Long version. Ljubljana: Fakulteta za šport.
Škorić, S., & Obadić, E. (2019). Role of state funding in participation of Croatian athletes at major sports events. In B. G. Pitts, & J. Z. James (Eds.) Global Sport Business (pp. 19-35). London: Routledge.
Škorić, S., & Obadić, E. (2022). Connection between State Funding and International Sporting Success: The Case of Croatia. Zagreb International Review of Economics & Business, 25(2), 119-138. https://doi.org/10.2478/zireb-2022-0018
Thaler, H. R., & Sunstein, R. C. (2022). Dregljaj. Izboljšanje odločitev o zdravju, blaginji in sreči [Shudder. Improving decisions about health, wellbeing and happiness]. Ljubljana: UMco d.d.
Tušak, M. & Tušak, M. (2001). Psihologija športa [Psychology of sport]. Ljubljana: Znanstveni inštitut Filozofske fakultete.
Uhm, J. P., Lee, H. W., & Han, J. W. (2020). Creating sense of presence in a virtual reality experience: Impact on neurophysiological arousal and attitude towards a winter sport. Sport Management Review, 23(4), 588–600. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smr.2019.10.003
Vuori, I., Fentem, P., Svoboda, B., Patriksson, G., Andreff, W. & Weber, W. (1995). The significance of sport for society. Strasbourg: Council of Europe Press.
Wedderkopp, N., Froberg, K., Hansen, H. S. & Andersen, L. B. (2004). Secular trends in physical fitness and obesity in Danish 9-years old girls and boys: Odense School Child Study and Danish substudy of the European Youth Heart Study. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports, 14(3), 150-155. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0838.2004.00365.x
Williams, K. (2009). Strategic Management. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited.
World Health Organization, (2004). Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health. Geneva: WHO.
World Health Organization (2018). Global Recommendations on Physical Activity for Health. World Health Organisation.
Zubiashvili, T., & Zubiashvili, N. (2021). Population aging – a global challenge. Ecoforum Journal, 10(2). Retrieved from http://ecoforumjournal.ro/index.php/eco/article/viewFile/1248/754
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Edvard Kolar, Elnur E. Mammadov, Farid F. Gayibov, Mariana T. Vasileva, Roberto Biloslavo, Rado Pišot
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Open Access Policy and Copyright
This journal provides immediate open access to its content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge. Users are allowed to read, download, copy, distribute, print, search, or link to the full texts of the articles, or use them for any other lawful purpose, without asking prior permission from the publisher or the author.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY) that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work’s authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors grant the publisher commercial rights to produce hardcopy volumes of the journal for sale to libraries and individuals.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal’s published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
