The aim of the article is to analyze two terms referring to connotations
between sport and politics: sports policy and politics of sport. Both terms are used
vastly in the Anglo-Saxon science, but in the Polish scientific discourse they tend
to be misused. Sports policy can be understood as one of the areas of state’s activity,
which is focused on sport. Sports policy can be divided into elite sports policy and
sport participation policy, both having slightly different objectives. Th e second term
– politics of sport – has much more general dimension and can be used to describe
relations between sport and politics.Th e subjects of sports policy and politics of
sport are also considered in the article. The most important of them are the states,
but national and international sports federations, international organizations, local
governments, athletes or spectators are also worth mentioning
