198 research outputs found
Sport policy evaluation: what do we know and how might we move forward?
Full text linkEvaluation, a product of the movement for evidence-based policy, is a key step in policy cycles. However, many studies existing in sport policy literature have failed to address underpinning methodologies in a rigorous manner and to provide justification for the use of certain measures handpicked by evaluators. As yet, no study has explicitly reflected on the value of evaluation or has systematically discussed how mainstream evaluation theories have been used in sport policy studies. Such articulation is necessary in order to provide researchers with additional resources for making informed and strategic methodological choices and to ensure the quality of their analysis. Thus, this paper discusses the development of evaluation in general, and examines existing literature on sport policy evaluation. It then goes on to outline four especially noteworthy public policy evaluation frameworks: experimental design, constructivist evaluation, utilisation-focused evaluation, and realist evaluation. Next, it uses a specific example to highlight the strengths of realist evaluation as a tool for unpacking additionality and understanding the logic of theory. In conclusion, the paper suggests using theory-based evaluation frameworks (specifically, realist evaluation) to inform sport policy failure or success for future sport evaluation research
Youth Sport in China
No full textThis chapter provides an analysis of youth sport in China and considers the role played by the state in its development. It starts by briefly reviewing national government policies for youth sport, particularly in relation to physical education (PE) and school sport. The chapter then reviews the available empirical evidence on the levels and patterns of young people’s participation in sport and physical activity, and health more broadly, and explains how these are associated with the traditional values and ideology which underpin social life in China. The chapter concludes by reflecting upon the future of youth sport in China
Exploring China's success at the Olympic Games: a competitive advantage approach
Full text linkResearch question:Much research has been carried out to analyse factors contributing to China's notable success at the Olympic Games over the past decade. However, research which examines China's deliberate Olympic medal strategy remains relatively uncharted territory. Thus this paper seeks to address this gap and examines how China has become one of the most successful superpowers at the Summer Olympic Games within the last two decades by virtue of the application of the competitive advantage framework. Research methods:Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders of elite sport in China. These data were supplemented by a range of official publications of sports governing bodies in China, their websites and related information from the websites of influential media. Results and findings:It is evidenced that China's current Olympic configuration and (gold) medal distribution among sports/disciplines are largely underpinned by Tian Maijiu's research on cluster-based sports training and the ‘Five-Word principle’ (i.e. Small, Fast, Women, Water and Agile). In addition, there is clear evidence of China's continuous expansion of its market and the ambition to greater success in gold-medal abundant and collective ball sports/disciplines. Implications:This article concludes by critically examining the key characteristics and outcomes of China's approach to clustering and prioritisation, attempting to provide some insights into the establishment or refinement of Olympic (gold) medal strategy for other nations, where China may provide some useful lessons. The compatibility of the competitive advantage framework with the analysis of China's Olympic success is also discussed. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHO
'It’s not doable!’ Exploring physical education teachers’ perspectives on the policy change of sport and physical education in Chinese universities
Full text linkIn China, a decline in adolescents’ physical fitness plus increased risks of chronic disease and obesity have led to recent policy changes in sport and physical education (PE) within the contexts of schools and universities. Although there has been increased research interest in issues related to youth sport and school sport, few studies focus on the university context. There is remarkably little bottom-up study examining how universities react to macro level policies in particular. Using case-study approaches, our research aims to explore PE teachers’ perceptions regarding the roles of sport and the fitness test programme for university students along with these staff members’ reactions to and perspectives on recent national policy changes. Guided by Ball et al.’s (2011) theoretical framework for education policy analysis, the empirical section of this paper uses a series of interviews conducted with a range of senior sport staff members and PE teachers from the sport departments of four case-study universities in Tianjin, China. The paper reveals that the role and value of sport has indeed been upgraded against the background of a serious policy change at the national level; but variations are also apparent in the implementation of the policies at university level, with these variations affected by individual interests and perspectives and by universities’ contextual constraints. The paper ends with an analysis of the implications associated with micro level policy analysis for university sport development in China
Women in management and leadership in the olympic movement in Muslim majority countries::An empirical evaluation of Huntington's clash of civilisations typology
Full text linkThis article seeks to evaluate whether there are differences between Samuel Huntington's civilisational groups' of countries in terms of women's leadership of Olympic organisations. This article draws on two questionnaire surveys which evaluate the electoral practices and outcomes of Olympic bodies (i.e. National Olympic Committees and International Federations) relating to gender equity and governance, with a specific intention to compare the role of women in the leadership of such bodies between Islamic societies and non-Islamic contexts. The vehicle for analysing the data employs Huntington's well-known but controversial civilisational typology which identifies nine major cultural civilisational groups (including Western and Islamic states). This allows the authors to explore the extent to which differences may exist between Western and Islamic societies and others, with regard to women's roles in leadership and governance of Olympic bodies. Differences between Muslim, and other religious groupings on the one hand and secular liberal democratic groupings on the other, are often assumed to reflect the distinction between tradition and modernity, and sort is seen in the literature in large part as a product of modernity. However, results of the statistical analysis of women's roles in senior positions in NOCs in particular, do not reflect Western superiority in terms of women's representation. This article thus casts doubt on the appropriateness of considering the Islamic norm as traditional, and the Western norm as modern.</p
Evaluating the London 2012 Games’ impact on sport participation in a non-hosting region:a practical application of realist evaluation
Full text linkIn the literature on Olympic legacies and impacts, there is a dearth of materials that specifically address the issue of Olympic impact for non-hosting regions. The literature tends to deal with impacts at a national level, or at a hosting-city region level, neglecting in large part the degree to which benefits can be leveraged by non-hosting regions. A further limitation identified in the literature is a failure to engage in detailed formal evaluation of policy implementation where assertions of potential policy impact are based on untested assumptions. This study is intended to address both of these concerns. It presents an empirical, ‘bottom-up’ application of a Realist Evaluation framework to assess the impact of a policy initiative – Workplace Challenge – aimed at leveraging enhanced sports participation in a non-hosting region – Leicestershire – in the period leading up to the 2012 Games. In doing so, it seeks to identify which causal mechanisms worked within this particular context to produce the observed outcomes. The evaluation results demonstrate that the programme represented a positive approach to fostering regular engagement with sport and physical activities for some groups in some types of organisations, and that awareness and motivational factors associated with the London 2012 Games are, in this case, linked (albeit weakly) to an increase in sport and physical activity participation for specific groups taking part in the programme in particular organisational contexts.</p
To let go or to control? Depoliticisation and (re)politicisation in Chinese football
Full text linkThe concept of depoliticisation has become increasingly popular in Western governance studies. However, empirical analysis of depoliticisation processes in non-democratic political regimes is less prevalent. This article addresses this gap through an examination of China’s recent efforts to depoliticise the sport sector, using football as a trial. Documentary analysis and semi-structured interviews were adopted for data collection. Specifically, we delineated the principles adopted, activities occurred, and tools used for football depoliticisation at three political levels (macro, meso and micro), highlighting the inconsistencies between the desired outcomes and strategies for depoliticisation. We reveal that the depoliticisation of Chinese football is a convoluted and incremental process and various depoliticisation strategies were used in an attempt to reform the football governance system. A nexus between depoliticisation and (re)politicisation constantly emerged due to factors such as historic path dependency and the lack of determination of the government to fully relinquish control
Golf in Asia and the Middle East
Full text linkThe popularity of golf is heterogeneous in Asia and the Middle East. Golf is relatively new to the continent but its effects are immense. Asia accounts for most of the global industries growth in the last few decades and for most of the optimism when it comes to next few decades. Whilst golf was for so long a western pastime, golf is increasingly embedded within Asia. This chapter reviews the structure, organisation and governance of golf in Asia. The major governing organisations for amateur and professional golf are identified. This chapter also examines the major strategic issues confronting golf in Asia and the Middle East. The chapter concludes with a brief discussion of the importance of the golf tourism and manufacturing sectors to the Asian golf industry
Volunteering for sports mega events: A non-host region perspective
Full text linkDespite a plethora of studies focussing on sports mega event volunteering, little is known about volunteers who live outside of the host city. This exploratory research makes a novel contribution by focusing on a group of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games volunteers from a non-host region. Within this context, the study explores volunteers’ motives, the utility of using financial subsidies to support volunteering participation, and their attitudes towards post-event volunteering. Semi-structured interviews with twelve volunteers were conducted, accompanied by interviews with key local stakeholders. The findings suggest that Olympic-related factors and altruistic feelings were central motivations to volunteering. Some previous volunteering experiences increased confidence levels to volunteer at the Olympics. The financial scheme was perceived as an impetus further enhancing Leicestershire residents’ confidence to volunteer. Program participants also indicated positive attitudes towards future volunteering intentions
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