High-performance sport systems: Current developments and future challenges

Jan-Willem van der Roest, Veerle De Bosscher, Simon Shibli

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

A growing number of nations have started to invest in high-performance sport, which has resulted in an intensifying 'global sporting arms race'. As a result, it is expected that nations will face higher costs to maintain or increase success in the future. In this chapter, we review literature on high-performance systems to identify key characteristics of high-performance sport policy. We then turn to developments in these policies in the last three decades. These developments are seen to evolve in three waves: (1) Increasing Competition, Increasing Medal Cost and Homogenisation of Elite Sport Policies, (2) Diminishing Returns to Scale and Increasing Prioritisation by Nations and (3) From Systems to Outcomes: The Societal Impact of Elite Sport, and Changing Innovation and Technologies. Finally, we present a research agenda for high-performance sport systems. This agenda is characterised by new ways of achieving and defining success.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationA Research Agenda for Sport Management
EditorsDavid Shilbury
PublisherEdward Elgar Publishing
Chapter9
Pages149–166
ISBN (Electronic)9781800378322
ISBN (Print)9781800378315
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 6 May 2022

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