SPORT GOVERNANCE AND REGULATION

Sport Governance and Regulation

Sport Governance and Regulation

Introduction

Once formally codified and standardized, the social practice we now term modern sports was destined to form part of consumer culture. In the twenty-first century, we now find ourselves in a position where sports—both in terms of activities that are participated in globally by billions from elite to recreational levels, and also as spectacles watched by billions more—can be regarded as a commodity that is bought and sold within an increasingly global marketplace. Arguably the most global of spectator sports—Association football (commonly referred to as soccer)—best represents the interdependent relationship between sports and consumer culture. Of particular significance are global sports events; the television-sport relationship; endorsements and sponsorship; commercialization of sports stadia; and consumption of sports celebrities (Amis, 2004, pp.158-198).

In Britain, clubs, groups and individuals have developed their particular sport in their own way and with their governing body, protecting them has meant that we do not have a national sports policy. The setting up of the Sports Council, founded in 1972, was an attempt to develop a national sports policy. UK government department formed in 1997 to succeed the Department of National Heritage (Andreff, 2000, pp. 257-276). It is responsible for broadcasting and the media; the arts; libraries, museums, and galleries; architectural and archaeological heritage; tourism; sport and recreation; and the National Lottery (although the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have delegated responsibilities for some aspects in their parts of the UK). It is one of the smallest departments, with around 400 staff in 2001. It has two executive agencies, Historic Royal Palaces and Royal Parks. The secretary of state is Ben Bradshaw from 2009.

Structure of Sport

The following diagram (Beashel 1997) gives a pictorial view of the structure of sport in Britain and the associated governing bodies.

Roles

Some of the roles and responsibilities of the various bodies are as follows:

International Olympic Committee - Manage all Olympic matters

International Sports Federation - Manage their sport worldwide

British Olympic Association - Promote the Olympics

National Governing Bodies of Sport - support Sports Clubs

promote and run the sport

organise competitions and events

select teams at all levels

set coaching standards

arrange coaching and training

organise award schemes

enforce rules and regulations

Central Council of Physical Recreation - Represent their governing bodies

UK Sports Councils - Manage Sport in the UK and International affairs

Sports councils for Wales, Scotland, England and Northern Ireland - Try to coordinate all the different organisations involved in developing sport in their country (Barut, 2003, pp. 104-112)

Sports Councils

The aims of each Sports Council are to:

increase participation in sport and physical recreation

increase the quantity and quality of sports facilities

raise standards of performance

provide information for and about sport

The Sports Council:

provide grants to the national governing bodies to run programs in order to meet the Sports Councils aims

provide grants for new facilities

run campaigns to encourage participation

run national sports centres

responsible for providing the money for sport from the National Lottery

produce strategy documents to explain how they will achieve their aims in the future

In 1993, the Sports Council published 'Sport in the nineties: new ...