Is Competitive Elite Sport Really Morally Corrupt?

It has been argued that competitive elite sport both (i) reduces the humanity of athletes by turning them into beings whose sole value is determined in relation to others, and (ii) is motivated by a celebration of the genetically superior and humiliation of the weak. This paper argues that while (i) is a morally reproachable attitude to competition, it is not what competitive elite sport revolves around, and that (ii) simply is not the essence of competitive elite sport. Competitive elite sport is an exploration of the physical and mental demands of sport. Finally, the paper explores a number of consequences of the different views of sport with respect to the problem of intersexual women

Defining and characterizing team resilience in elite sport

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to develop a definition of team resilience and to identify the resilient characteristics of elite sport teams. Design and Method: Focus groups consisting of a total of 31 participants were conducted with five elite teams from a range of sports. An interpretive thematic analysis using inductive and deductive reasoning was employed to analyze the data. Results and Conclusions: Team resilience was defined as a dynamic, psychosocial process which protects a group of individuals from the potential negative effect of the stressors they collectively encounter. It comprises of processes whereby team members use their individual and combined resources to positively adapt when experiencing adversity. Findings revealed four main resilient characteristics of elite sport teams: group structure, mastery approaches, social capital, and collective efficacy. This study extends resilience research in sport psychology by providing greater conceptual clarity of resilience at a team level. The implications of the findings for those conducting research in this area and for those consulting with elite sport teams are discussed

An analysis of Chinese olympic and elite sport policy discourse in the post-Beijing 2008 Olympic Games era

This thesis has sought to investigate the development of Chinese elite sport policy after the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games through examining the evolution of the Chinese Olympic discourses and elite sport policy discourses with emphasis on the power and interests reflected and constructed within and by these discourses. This study adopts a Critical Discourse Analysis approach, (founded on Critical Realist premises). The discourse analysis protocol employed is modified from Fairclough s (2005, 2009) framework, also known as Dialectical-Relational Approach, to examine the constitution and implementation of power at the meso and micro levels of relationships within Chinese elite sport. The analysis is based on archival material and semi-structured interviews. Rather than providing a detailed chronology of the Chinese Olympic movement and of Chinese elite sport, the analysis, divided into two main parts, starts with identifying critical periods as the start line of the analysis and points of division that separate these periods. The analysis of the pre-2008 era starts with the year 1993, in which the first Olympic bid by China failed and the second significant reforming policy of Chinese elite sport was published. This section of the thesis consists of an analytic description of the development of Chinese elite sport policy and the analysis of Chinese Olympic discourse and elite sport discourse before the 2008 Olympics. The post-2008 section contains the analysis of these two discourses after the Beijing Games, and develops case studies of three sports, baseball, diving and table tennis, attempting to unveil the development of Chinese elite sport policy in the post-2008 era. From 1993 to 2012, a consistent feature was the concurrent requirement of both reform and of satisfactory elite sport performance, was maintained in Chinese elite sport policy discourse. The power of discourses in relation to these dual goals has varied across the period, has been influenced by a number of factors, and has been maintained by the dominant group within Chinese society and within Chinese elite sport exercising their power over discourse. The thesis argues that the characterisation of Chinese elite sport and of its development has varied with the change in the power relationship between the two sets of goals, which has significantly influenced the key developments and change in Chinese elite sport policy and its governance system

National and Organizational Culture in Norwegian Elite Sport: The Account of National Handball Head Coaches

The present study looks at the organizational culture of Norwegian elite sport which we capture as the meeting point of the national and elite sport cultures. Two successful national teams, the women’s and men’s handball are the point of departure. The selected elite sport contexts are apparently similar but at the same time distinctive. Informed by theories of culture and high reliability organizations, we analyzed in depth semi-structured interviews with the national team coaches and found that their organizational cultures were characterized by three common elements: a process-oriented approach, an athlete-centered approach, and a value-based approach towards development. Variations between teams were noticed, such as how the athletes partake in the team’s value-anchoring processes. Overall, we learned that at the international level results can be achieved even when embracing, and performing, under humanistic and social-democratic values, which deviates significantly from the commonly embraced win-at-all-costs approach. Norwegian elite sport culture appears to exemplify this cultural approach by actively employing a value-system in the development of its athletes, teams and sport. In that respect, the study contributes to the international elite sport organization literature as it relates daily practices with the overall culture theory and the specific theory of high reliability organizations. The study provides a detailed account of how national Norwegian values (and further overarching Scandinavian values) pair up with elite sport demands, in team and backstage practices within two elite sport contexts.publishedVersio

Gene-talk and sport-talk: A talk from the radical middle ground

In this paper, we explore and reflect critically on what elite sport may expect or fear from genetic technologies. In particular, we explore the language in which we (where "we" denotes scientists, sports scientists, the media, sports coaches, academics) tend to speak about genetics, elite sport, and the human body - we call this language "gene-talk" - which imagines the world of elite sport as one in which genes were always dominant in athletic performance. The dominant question here seems to be whether what is thought to be possible ought to be, and can be realized. We unpack the question by asking whether the practices needed for genetics to intervene so powerfully in elite sport exist in the straightforward and uncomplicated manner that the "gene-talk" literature seems to suggest. We argue that there is a lack of relevant studies to support and analyse the notion of sports performance as an immensely rich and complex practice.We conclude that elite sport may be more complex and heterogeneous than "gene-talk" has imagined to date

Exploring new models of elite sport delivery : the case of triathlon in the USA and Australia

There is a growing body of knowledge that examines the tasks and processes for successful sport and recognizes that sport development activities undertaken within the framework of recruitment, retention, and transition should vary between sports and contexts. There has been little research that has examined newer models of sport development in emerging sports. This research examines elite sport development structure and delivery in the sport of triathlon in the USA and Australia. The research team conducted interviews with representatives responsible for the delivery and development of triathlon. The results show three overarching elements in elite sport development: (1) the sport development process, (2) the sport development setting, and (3) outsourcing delivery of sport development. Triathlon has different processes and settings for sport development between the USA and Australia. However, both countries share a core similarity in how they deliver elite sport through a third party organization. A discussion of the implications for the development of new models of elite sport development ensues.<br /

Performance management::A systematic review of processes in elite sport and other performance domains

<p>Performance management is integral for high-performing organizations and teams. The purpose of this review was to synthesize evidence on performance management across elite sport and other performance-focused domains (business, performing arts, high-risk professions). A systematic search and screening strategy was undertaken. Twenty studies satisfied the inclusion criteria. Thematic synthesis enabled the identification of key components of performance management. Similarities and differences between elite sport and other domains are identified across the following themes: <i>strategic performance management, operational performance management, individual performance management</i>, and <i>leadership of the performance team</i>. Implications for practitioners in elite sport are also considered across these themes.</p

Children or athletes? Best practice for safeguarding elite young athletes

This address explores the status confusion between “child” and “athlete” that arises in elite sport for young people and discuss some of the challenges that this presents to sport providers. It reviews the evidence about breaches of child welfare in sport around the world and considers how the sport community can respond positively to this evidence in both policy and practice

Ethics, Nanotechnology and Elite Sport - The Need For A Precautionary Approach

Elite sport is a competitive industry, with athletes continuously striving for innovative ways to gain advantages over their competitors. The increasing impact of sport sciences over recent decades has contributed much to this ethos, and has recently been witnessed in the application of sports engineering, working to integrate new technologies in order to enhance levels of athletic performance and also athlete safety. The application of nanotechnology offers a sport engineer the potential to improve equipment used both in and out of competition. Nevertheless, despite its emerging integration into sports sciences, limited attention has been paid to the ethical impacts this technology may have on elite sport. To address this problem, an eclectic normative approach is pursued, allowing for the range of nanotechnological application to elite sport to be considered, in order to generate critical ethical evaluations in relation to its current and potential use within elite sport. The issues were framed variously through consequentialist and deontological analysis. Three nanotechnological case studies are presented, highlighting potential benefits and disbenefits that nanotechnology may present, and to additionally determine whether, and if so, what, deontologically framed regulatory action were required to govern its use within elite sport. The first case study considered nanotechnology's application to the sport of road cycling; the second considered nanotechnology's application to performance analysis; and the third considered nanotechnology's application to horse race betting. The analysis of the case studies revealed that nanotechnology presents a number of benefits for elite sport, such as improved levels of performance and enhanced safety; but also disbenefits, such as those relating to fairness and corruption. Despite this, it is argued that, at present, nanotechnology does not pose a significant risk to the integrity of sport. But in order to reduce any future risk, the disbenefits should be addressed. A case is consequently argued for the application of a weak version of the Precautionary Principle applied through an original ethical analytical tool, in order to govern the initial integration phase of nanotechnology. The work concludes by outlining more specific regulatory actions that could be taken in order to inform the development of a 'nano' specific regulatory framework, in order to govern nanotechnology's continued long term safe and ethical use within elite sport

The impact of economic growth on the competitiveness of national elite sport systems

India is the extreme under - achiever in international sport competitions. This has only marginally changed with the recent promotion of the Indian economy into the league of BRIC nations. Whereas in China high growth rates have been accompanied by a huge im provement of its performance in international sport events a similar impact of extraordinary growth rates has been almost totally absent in the case of India. Is India an exception? Several econometric studies have shown that income per capita is a signifi cant variable explaining elite sport results such as results in the Olympic Games. From this stylized fact follows the hypothesis that 'above/below average' growth rates lead to relative improvements/deterioration of elite sport results (with a time lag)‟. This paper tests the hypothesis by means of a study of the correlation between growth in GNP per capita and growth in medal points in the sports of the Olympic Summer Games. The findings show no correlation. However, a detailed analysis of country evidenc e shows interesting trends and details. The paper concludes with tentative explanations for the findings including the contradictory country evidence