The meaning of democracy in an era of good governance: Views of representation and their implications for board composition

Contemporary sport governance contexts are marked by a trend towards efficiency-based board composition and an increasing use of instruments aimed to (re)shape boards. Yet, democratic governance is integral to many countries’ sport systems, and research tells us that representation still matters in sport governance. Considering this, the aim with this paper is to provide researchers and practitioners with a vocabulary to understand and address issues of representation in board composition. The paper builds on interviews with nomination committee representatives of 62 Swedish national sport federations (NSFs). The analysis provides insights into the meaning and implications of four distinct views of representation, along with an interpretation of potential responses to board-shaping instruments engendered by these views.The meaning of democracy in an era of good governance: Views of representation and their implications for board compositionpublishedVersio

Playing by the rules of academia? The impact of an international research project on the professional identity development of early-career academics in sport management

The purpose of this study is to examine how participating in an international research project (IRP) can impact the way early-career academics (ECAs) perceive academia and thus their professional identity development. Based on neoinstitutional theory, we examine autoethnographic memory stories of six ECAs within sport management who participated in an international research project (IRP). These ECAs experienced an important professional socialization process into the institutional logics of sport management academia. We found that the academics\u27 perception of doing research was influenced by reflection processes of and within the prevailing logics of the organizational field of sport management academia. ECAs benefit from participating in IRPs as they foster the ability to develop career decisions that will benefit them personally and professionally. The paper highlights opportunities of IRPs in contributing to transferable skill development for ECAs and concludes with recommendations for doctoral students and educators

Internationalization of the Sport Management Labor Market and Curriculum Perspectives: Insights From Germany, Norway, and Spain

This study applies “Europeanness” to the analysis of internationalization in the sport management labor market and which changes this trend necessitates for sport management curricula. The authors employed an analysis of 30 semistructured interviews with key informants from Germany, Norway, and Spain. The results reveal various effects of internationalization on the sport sector and highlight the richness and diversity in the three countries. Sport management graduates need to possess a diverse set of competencies for successfully starting their careers. In addition to subject-specific knowledge, generic competencies such as the ability to work in a team, being able to communicate in diverse languages, and having intercultural skills are important. The article discusses knowledge of international sport organizations, their governance, global trends, and intercultural and language competencies, as well as international sport event management as identified themes and proposes specific curriculum changes to promote educational outcomes of sport management programs

Ung medbestemmelse i norsk idrett: Evaluerings- og utredningsarbeid om barrierene og behovene for å øke ung medbestemmelse i særforbund og idrettskretser

Denne rapporten er et resultat av et oppdrag fra idrettsstyret basert på et vedtak fra idrettstinget i mai 2019 om å utrede barrierene og behov for å øke ung medbestemmelse i Norges idrettsforbund (NIF), særforbund (SF) og idrettskretser (IK). Arbeidet er basert på spørreundersøkelse, dybdeintervjuer og samtaler med representanter fra organisasjoner både internt i idretten, men også eksternt. I rapporten diskuteres blant annet at unge ikke burde være representanter for andre unge, men likestilte med de andre lederne i idretten. For å øke ung medbestemmelse må unge ha lik medvirkning i alle saker, ikke bare i saker som erfarne ledere anser mindre viktige. I tillegg svarer rapporten i detalj på følgende spørsmål: Ung medbestemmelse i norsk idrett – hva er status i dag? Unge representanter (26 år eller yngre) er klar minoritet i styrene til IK og SF. Mens 13 prosent av styremedlemmer i IK er unge, utgjør unge bare 7 prosent blant styremedlemmer i SF. Hvordan er unges vei til organisatoriske verv i SF og IK? Det er forskjellige veier inn for unge i et verv: mens flere blir spurt, foreslår enkelte seg selv som styrekandidat. De fleste unge jobber seg fra verv til verv. Ungdomsutvalg anses som springbrett. Hvordan bidrar unge i organisasjonen? Unge viser seg som en kjemperessurs for organisasjoner, både administrativt, men og i politiske saker. De kan også styrke idrettsorganisasjonen med sin kunnskap, nettverk samt å se på ting fra en annen synsvinkel. Hva er utfordringene med ung medbestemmelse? Utfordringene er mange: generasjonskonflikt er i noen tilfeller katalysator for forskjellsbehandling. Unge har i stor grad symbolsk medvirkning kontra reell medbestemmelse. Usikkerhet rundt rollen og oppgaver, manglende oppfølgning og livssituasjon vanskeliggjør ung medbestemmelse i SF og IK. Hvilke behov har norsk idrett for å øke ung medbestemmelse? Behovene dreier seg om å skape trygghet blant unge, øke kompetanse blant unge og erfarne ledere og løse seg fra tradisjonelle informasjons- og kommunikasjonsmønstre. I tillegg til behov for ressurser, er det viktig at tillitsvalgte i idretten samhandler på tvers av alderen. Hvilke tiltak må til for å øke ung medbestemmelse? Rapporten inneholder 11 tiltak som svarer på behov for ung medbestemmelse på flere nivåer. Tiltakene er rettet mot at unge blir inkludert i fora der beslutninger tas, at de føler seg trygge på sine roller, samt at de kan få utvikle sin kompetanse. I tillegg rettes tiltak som svarer på behov for ressurser som er nødvendig for å sikre ung medbestemmelse på sikt

Legitimation processes of sport organizations: the case of Norwegian youth sport policy and the 2016 Lillehammer Winter Youth Olympic Games

Introduction: The Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sport’s (NIF) main argument for hosting the 2016 Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games (hereafter referred to as Lillehammer 2016) was the alleged positive demonstration effect, the promise that the event would increase the active engagement of youth in Norwegian organized sports in terms of participation, young leadership, and young coaches, and play an important role in NIF’s youth sport policy. Aim: The aim of this research is to analyze how different actors shape and influence Norwegian youth sport policy in connection to Lillehammer 2016 as legitimation process of NIF. This aim was met through the examination of four research questions, which comprise the entire policy process, from formulation (Article 1) via implementation (Article 2) and perception of the policy target group (Article 3) to the policy outcome (Article 4). Theoretical framework: The combination of neo-institutional theory and implementation literature served as analytical framework for examining how structures and practices within the youth policy process and Lillehammer 2016 are expressed, implemented, reproduced, and changed

Legitimation processes of sport organizations: the case of Norwegian youth sport policy and the 2016 Lillehammer Winter Youth Olympic Games

Avhandling (doktorgrad) - Norges idrettshøgskole, 2017Introduction: The Norwegian Olympic Committee and Confederation of Sport’s (NIF) main argument for hosting the 2016 Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games (hereafter referred to as Lillehammer 2016) was the alleged positive demonstration effect, the promise that the event would increase the active engagement of youth in Norwegian organized sports in terms of participation, young leadership, and young coaches, and play an important role in NIF’s youth sport policy. Aim: The aim of this research is to analyze how different actors shape and influence Norwegian youth sport policy in connection to Lillehammer 2016 as legitimation process of NIF. This aim was met through the examination of four research questions, which comprise the entire policy process, from formulation (Article 1) via implementation (Article 2) and perception of the policy target group (Article 3) to the policy outcome (Article 4). Theoretical framework: The combination of neo-institutional theory and implementation literature served as analytical framework for examining how structures and practices within the youth policy process and Lillehammer 2016 are expressed, implemented, reproduced, and changed.Article I: Strittmatter, A.-M. (2016). Defining a problem to fit the solution: A neo-institutional explanation for legitimizing the bid for the 2016 Lillehammer winter Youth Olympic Games. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 8(3), 421–437.Article II: Strittmatter, A.-M. and Skille, E. Å. (2016). Boosting youth sport Implementation of Norwegian youth sport policy through the 2016 Lillehammer Winter Youth Olympic Games. Sport in Society, 1–17. doi:10.1080/17430437.2015.1124568Article III: Strittmatter, A.-M., Hanstad, D. V. and Skirstad, B. (Submitted). Mismatch of expectations between target group and implementing agents in youth sport policy. International Review for the Sociology of Sport.Article IV: Strittmatter, A.-M. (Under review). Increasing youth sport engagement through the Youth Olympic Games: Leveraging strategies and tactics. International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing.Seksjon for kultur og samfunn / Department of Cultural and Social Studie

Facilitating Sustainable Outcomes for the Organization of Youth Sports through Youth Engagement

The aim of this study was to explore how a youth sport development programme in connection with a major event may facilitate sustainable outcomes for the organization of youth sports in Norway. The context of the study involved the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports’ initiative to increase young people’s engagement within Norwegian organized sports. The result of the initiative was the Young Leaders Programme (YLP) in connection with the 2016 Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games. Young people’s perceptions of the YLP, as well as how these perceptions relate to its implementation, are evaluated to determine the extent to which the programme may make a difference to sustainable youth engagement in organized sports. Qualitative data were generated through interviews with 16 YLP participants, aged 16–20, and five implementing agents. Applying the framework of processes affecting sustainability, the study shows how certain forms of sustainability can be enhanced while constraining other forms at the same time. The findings highlight that project design and implementation play a more crucial role in creating organizational sustainability than in creating individual sustainability. Furthermore, we were able to reveal that the engagement of young people in sport events as volunteers fosters individual sustainability, of which sport organizations and sporting communities should take advantage by providing arenas where young people can re-engage in sport organizations and thus contribute as change agents to a sustainable organization for youth sports

Facilitating sustainable outcomes for the organization of youth sports through youth engagement

The aim of this study was to explore how a youth sport development programme in connection with a major event may facilitate sustainable outcomes for the organization of youth sports in Norway. The context of the study involved the Norwegian Olympic and Paralympic Committee and Confederation of Sports’ initiative to increase young people’s engagement within Norwegian organized sports. The result of the initiative was the Young Leaders Programme (YLP) in connection with the 2016 Lillehammer Youth Olympic Games. Young people’s perceptions of the YLP, as well as how these perceptions relate to its implementation, are evaluated to determine the extent to which the programme may make a difference to sustainable youth engagement in organized sports. Qualitative data were generated through interviews with 16 YLP participants, aged 16–20, and five implementing agents. Applying the framework of processes affecting sustainability, the study shows how certain forms of sustainability can be enhanced while constraining other forms at the same time. The findings highlight that project design and implementation play a more crucial role in creating organizational sustainability than in creating individual sustainability. Furthermore, we were able to reveal that the engagement of young people in sport events as volunteers fosters individual sustainability, of which sport organizations and sporting communities should take advantage by providing arenas where young people can re-engage in sport organizations and thus contribute as change agents to a sustainable organization for youth sports

Sport management in Norway: Present and future trends: New age of Sport Management Education in Europe (NASME) - a research project under the Erasmus+ Programme

Being the leading institution of higher education for providing sport management education in Norway, the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences strives to make our study programs as relevant and applicable as possible for our students. We have been successful when our students find relevant and inspiring jobs. In order to further develop curricula, we took part in the EU funded Erasmus+ project New Age in Sport Management Education (NASME) together with eight other European countries. This report is about Norway. Recommendation for sport management curriculum at higher education instititions: A predecessing study among European countries from 2006 stated that “(a)ll 120 ECTS credits must be sport management studies or closely sport management studies or subjects in the Curriculum for Master in sport management” in order to have highest relevance to students and the labour market (AEHSIS, 2006, p. 194). For the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences this means that the course selection at the Master’s level has to be increased and include more sport management topics. At the Bachelor’s level, we recommend a wide spectre of sport management topics; however, courses such as sport marketing and digital communication will have increased attention in the curriculum. Internship is considered increasingly important by the industry, and in the future a more applied Master’s program in sport management is considered as well as a scholarly track. An international approach that includes foreign students and professors is recommended. We hope you will find this an interesting read

Two decades of youth sport policy research: A augmented scoping review and synthesis

Research question: This article addresses the need to develop a comprehensive understanding of research on the formation and content of youth sport policies by presenting a review of studies across the period from 2000 to 2020. The review examined the scale and scope of these studies, collective research findings, and theoretical and methodological approaches utilised. Research methods: Compatible approaches to research synthesis were utilised, with scoping review methods supporting both searching within 31 relevant journals and the creation of a definition of youth sport policy research by which inclusion/exclusion of articles was determined. Scoping review techniques augmented by those of ‘meta-study’ were used to analyse the 71 articles that were identified through the review. Results and Findings: Youth sport policy research was dominated by studies in Europe and North America. There was also a predominance of qualitative methods, with studies being collectively limited in their utilisation of theory. 44% of studies examined policies focused on schools, with similar proportions (between 17%-20%) addressing policies for welfare and safeguarding, community-based participation, and high performance sport. Youth sport policy goals were often found to overlap and be influenced by other policy agendas, with health being a prominent policy concern. Implications: Besides the need for a wider geographical spread, improved theoretical underpinning and expanding quantitative methods should be priorities for future youth sport policy research. Extending normative analysis and study of democracy and inclusion in youth sport policy-making should also be pursued, especially as young people appear commonly excluded from these processes