Creating a corporate anti-doping culture: Understanding the role of sport governing bodies

The World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) vision to promote a new moral order in sport and new forms of organisation and management through the World Anti Doping code (WADC) amount to creating a new corporate culture. WADC’s emphasis on policy implementation places sport governing bodies (SGB) and managers at the heart of the enterprise. This represents a double challenge: (i) to the organisational culture of SGBs as it entails creating shared systems of meaning that are accepted, internalised, and acted on at every level of an organization, and (ii) to the IOC and the WADA in regard to universality and particularity, where the general organisational difficulty is how they are to operate at a global (universal) level whilst such apparently intractable differences exist at the particular (local) level. This paper employs Morgan’s (1997) metaphor of organisations as cultures to develop an understanding of the process of endorsing a global anti-doping policy. It explores the enactment of the WADC using the Bulgarian Weightlifting Federation as a case in point. While a good level of universal approval of WADC has been achieved the main issue remains how to get SGBs practices in line with it

Governance of the London 2012 Olympic Games legacy

© The Author(s) 2011. This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below.This study addresses the governance of the London 2012 Olympics legacy. It presents legacy not as a retrospective but a prospective concept concerned with shaping the future through interactions between the state, market and society. This entails designing systems of governance to guide and steer collective actions towards a consensus amongst various parties concerned. Four modes of governance and a range of policy instruments were examined in the delivery of sustainable London Olympics sport legacy including coercive, voluntarism, targeting and framework regulation. The British government actively created a new policy space and promoted institutional conduct consistent with its legacy visions. The current global legacy framework is lacking the governance dimension and its logic needs to be reconsidered. A meaningful sport legacy requires not top-down approaches but locally informed strategies supported by a developmental design of the Olympic Games informed by sustainable principles

Understanding the changing nature of sports organisations in transforming societies

The paper examined the process of changing in three Bulgarian national sport organisations (NSO) in swimming, weightlifting and field hockey, as the country is undergoing fundamental political, economic and social transformations from state socialism (1945-1989) to democratisation (1990-present). Drawing on the contextualist approach to organisational change (Pettigrew, 1985) the study was concerned with understanding long-term processes in their context. Analysed were NSOs’ conceptual orientation, structures, resources, capabilities and outcomes. Changing was unveiled through the interplay between three levels of analysis - wider political and economic, sport sector, and organisation-specific. The history of changing unfolded over a 25 years period and followed three stages of crisis of governability (1980-1989), crisis displacement (1989-1997) and identity search (1998-2004). Changing was determined by tensions generated in the previous socialist sport system, the new forces in the NSOs’ context, and by managers’ interpretation of events, and was a discovery process. The three NSOs followed different change patterns of shrinking, insulation and expansion. Two key reasons were responsible for those differences - the institualisation of the broader political and sport sector contexts, and NSOs’ choice to pursue narrow elitism (specialism) or the broader aims of sports development (generalism). The contextualist approach allowed us to appreciate the historical, contextual and processual nature of changing and to discuss the role of managers and various forces in shaping its course and outcomes

Термін давності відповідно до кримінального законодавства Болгарії

Ukraine carries out intensive judicial cooperation in criminal matters with other European countries. A typical impediment to granting Ukrainian requests for such cooperation (e.g. extradition from another country, taking over Ukrainian criminal proceedings by the requested foreign country, recognition and enforcement of Ukrainian criminal judgments abroad) is the expiry of the time limitation period [lapse of time] not only under the Ukrainian law but also under the law of the foreign country that Ukraine requests for cooperation. The problem is that the criminal statute of limitations of most European countries is significantly different from the Ukrainian one. In view thereof, Ukrainian criminal lawyers are interested in having some general knowledge of the statute of limitations of other European countries, esp. such as Bulgaria. On the one hand, this foreign country has always been a steady partner of Ukraine in international judicial cooperation. On the other hand, the Bulgarian statute of limitations constitutes a good example of the different type of legal framework for lapse of time that requesting Ukrainian authorities shall necessarily consider.    All penal laws of the contemporary Bulgarian state contained some statute of limitations. These laws are the 1896 Penal Law (repealed), the 1951 Penal Law upgraded to the 1956 Penal Code, after the full codification of this branch of law in Bulgaria (also repealed), and the existing Penal Code of 1968.  The criminal statute of limitations outlines periods when competent state authorities have been inactive. The expiry of these periods (the lapse of time under law) extinguishes the immediate legal consequences of crimes or the punishments imposed by the court for them. In Bulgaria, the statute of limitations consists of substantive penal law provisions. This is a legislative recognition of its substantive nature. The concept that the criminal statute of limitation is a procedural legal institution has been overcome in Bulgarian theory, law and judicial practice. The statute of limitations produces procedural consequences also but they derive from its direct substantive law results as secondary effects. As in most other countries, the penal law of Bulgaria prescribes two types of limitation periods. The first one runs after the commission of the offence. It is also called 'limitation of the offence'; its expiry entails the extinction of the offender’s criminal liability preventing both the imposition of punishment on him/her and his/her conviction status as well.  The second type of limitation period occurs after the imposition of an executable punishment. It is also called 'limitation of the punishment'; its expiry entails the extinction of the punishment imposed only. It does not eliminate the fact that the offender has been convicted. Under the Bulgarian Penal Code, each of the two types of statute of limitations includes not only general time limitations but also absolute ones as well. The former is applicable when the competent state authorities have not undertaken required activities whereas the latter applies only if the competent state authorities have failed to achieve a required result, namely: the imposition of punishment on the offender or the execution of his/her punishment.Украина осуществляет интенсивное правовое сотрудничество по уголовным делам с другими европейскими странами. Типичным препятствием для удовлетворения украинских просьб о таком сотрудничестве (например, экстрадиция из другой страны, принятие украинского уголовного производства в запрашиваемой стране, признание и приведение в исполнение украинских уголовных решений за рубежом) является истечение срока давности – при том не только в соответствии с законодательством Украины, но и в соответствии с законодательством иностранного государства, которое Украина запрашивает о сотрудничестве. Проблема в том, что уголовный режим давности большинства европейских стран существенно отличается от украинского. В связи с этим украинские специалисты по уголовным делам заинтересованы в том, чтобы иметь некоторые общие знания о сроках давности в других европейских странах, особенно таких, как Болгария. С одной стороны, это государство является серьезным партнером Украины в международном судебном сотрудничестве; с другой – болгарский режим давности является подходящим представителем тех европейских правовых режимов для истечения срока давности, которые существенно отличаются от украинских. Все уголовные законы современного болгарского государства содержали определенный режим давности. Этими законами являются Уголовный закон 1896 года (отменен), Уголовный закон 1951 года, усовершенствованный до Уголовного кодекса 1956 года, после полной кодификации этой отрасли права в Болгарии (также отменен), и существующий Уголовный кодекс 1968 года. По уголовному закону срок давности составляет период бездействия компетентных государственных органов. Истечение давности гасит непосредственные правовые последствия преступлений или наказания, назначенные за них судом. В Болгарии уголовноe право регулирует давность. Это является законодательным признанием материальной природы давности. Концепция о том, что уголовная давность является процессуально-правовым институтом, была преодолена в болгарской теории, праве и судебной практике. Истечение срока давности также влечет за собой процессуальные последствия, но они вытекают из его прямых материально-правовых результатов в качестве вторичных последствий.Україна здійснює інтенсивне правове співробітництво у кримінальних справах з іншими європейськими країнами. Типовою перешкодою для задоволення українських прохань про таку співпрацю (наприклад, екстрадиція з іншої країни, прийняття українського кримінального провадження в запитуваної іноземної країни, визнання і виконання українських кримінальних рішень за кордоном) є закінчення строку давності – причому не тільки відповідно до законодавства України, а й законодавства іноземної держави, яку Україна запитує про співпрацю. Проблема в тому, що кримінальний режим давності більшості європейських країн істотно відрізняється від українського. У зв'язку з цим українські фахівці у кримінальних справах зацікавлені в тому, щоб мати деякі загальні знання про терміни давності інших європейських країн, особливо таких, як Болгарія. З одного боку, ця держава є серйозним партнером України в міжнародному судовому співробітництві; з іншого – болгарський режим давності є підходящим представником тих європейських правових режимів щодо закінчення терміну давності, які істотно відрізняються від українських. Усі кримінальні закони сучасної болгарської держави містили певний режим давності. Цими законами є Кримінальний закон 1896 р. (скасований), Кримінальний закон 1951 р., вдосконалений до Кримінального кодексу 1956 р., після повної кодифікації в цій галузі права в Болгарії (також скасований), і чинний Кримінальний кодекс 1968 р. За кримінальним законом термін давності становить період бездіяльності компетентних державних органів. Закінчення строку давності нівелює безпосередні правові наслідки злочинів або покарання, призначені за них судом. У Болгарії кримінальне право регулює давність. Це є законодавчим визнанням матеріальної природи давності. Концепція про те, що кримінальна давність є процесуально-правовим інститутом, була подолана в болгарській теорії, праві і судовій практиці. Закінчення строку давності терміну також тягне за собою процесуальні наслідки, але вони випливають із його прямих матеріально-правових результатів як вторинні наслідки

An electrochemical and surface analytical study of the formation of nanoporous oxides on niobium

In the present paper, the anodization of Nb in mixed sulphate + fluoride electrolytes resulting in the formation of a nanoporous oxide film has been studied. Chronoamperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy have been employed to characterise in situ the kinetics of the oxidation process. In addition, the evolution of the layer structure and morphology has been followed by ex situ scanning electron microscopy. Particularly, local electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has been used to discern between the mesoscopic 2D and 3D distributions of time constants at the electrode surface. The similarity between local and global impedance spectra during anodic oxidation of Nb demonstrates the presence of an inherent 3D distribution of the high-frequency time constant, which is interpreted as in-depth variation of the steady state conductivity of the passive film. The experimental and calculational results are discussed in relation to the micro- and nanoscopic structure of the formed oxide

Canadian national sport organisations’ use of the web for relationship marketing in promoting sport participation

Sport participation development requires a systematic process which involves knowledge creation, dissemination and interactions between National Sport Organisations, participants, clubs and associations as well as other agencies. Using a relationship marketing approach (Grönroos, 1997, Gummesson, 2002, Olkkonen, 1999), this paper addressed the question ‘How do Canadian NSOs use the Web, in terms of functionality and services offered, to create and maintain relationships with sport participants and their sport delivery partners?’ Ten Canadian NSOs’ websites were examined: functionality was analysed using Burgess and Cooper’s (2000) eMICA model, while NSOs’ utilisation of the Internet to establish and maintain relationships with sport participants was analysed using Wang, Head and Archer’s (2000) relationship-building process model for the Web. It was found that Canadian NSOs were receptive to the use of the Web, but their information-gathering and dissemination activities, which make-up the relationship-building process, appear sparse, and in some cases are lagging behind the voluntary sector in the country

Hierarchy of Rules on International Judicial Cooperation: The Law of Bosnia and Herzegovina

This study is focused on the law of Bosnia and Herzegovina with its specific problems in international judicial cooperation in criminal matters. In the international law, hierarchy of interstate agreements is accepted and recognized, although, in practice, it is not always understood in the best way. Therefore, as in the case of Bosnia and Herzegovina, domestic law is subsidiary in cases of conflicts with interstate agreements. Nevertheless, it plays an irreplaceable role, as a regulator of international judicial cooperation in support of interstate agreements by interpreting their provisions. This power of national legal provisions must be properly used

Legacy, resource mobilisation and the olympic movement

There has been a growing interest in legacies of the Olympic Games focusing on external tangible outcomes, such as the number of sport competitions, participants and jobs created. Little is still known about the equally valuable internal benefits to individuals and organisational capacities of national sport systems. While the former tends to explore the contribution of the Games to host cities and countries, the latter is concerned with the role of Olympism in developing sport globally. Using a resource mobilisation approach to social movements, this study examines the powers of the Olympic Movement (OM) to generate resources needed for the advancement of its mission. This ability of the Movement is critical if it is to sustain its relevance to the modern world and to deliver on its stated objectives for social change, as well as to leave any lasting legacies from the Olympic Games

The numbers game: quantifying good governance in sport

Copyright © 2022 The Author(s). Research question: The paper interrogates the growing quantification of good governance and its implications for sport organisations. It addresses what shapes the production of governance codes and who decides what aspects of governance to be quantified and how we govern and study the quantification of good governance in sport. Research methods: This is a position and conceptual paper, which reviews three international and two national codes to illustrate the five dimensions of the quantification of governance, including the work required, its reactivity, its tendency to discipline human behaviour, its polyvalent authority, and its aesthetics. Results and findings: The quantification of governance codes requires a significant amount of work and triggers compliance responses from sport organisations, which leads to structural changes and an ever-greater institutional complexity and need for capacity building. Quantification has challenged sport organisations’ autonomy as it does not promote self-governance but rather meta-governance. How the quantification of governance is related to its theorisation and codes’ accuracy validity remains problematic. Implications: The paper challenges the uncritical acceptance of good governance codes as a norm for sport organisations and calls for a reconsideration of our approach in line with a sport-focused model, which acknowledges the value systems, local traditions and institutional frameworks underpinning the model

Canadian national sport organisations’ use of the web for relationship marketing in promoting sport participation

Sport participation development requires a systematic process which involves knowledge creation, dissemination and interactions between National Sport Organisations, participants, clubs and associations as well as other agencies. Using a relationship marketing approach (Grönroos, 1997, Gummesson, 2002, Olkkonen, 1999), this paper addressed the question ‘How do Canadian NSOs use the Web, in terms of functionality and services offered, to create and maintain relationships with sport participants and their sport delivery partners?’ Ten Canadian NSOs’ websites were examined: functionality was analysed using Burgess and Cooper’s (2000) eMICA model, while NSOs’ utilisation of the Internet to establish and maintain relationships with sport participants was analysed using Wang, Head and Archer’s (2000) relationship-building process model for the Web. It was found that Canadian NSOs were receptive to the use of the Web, but their information-gathering and dissemination activities, which make-up the relationship-building process, appear sparse, and in some cases are lagging behind the voluntary sector in the country