Sports and Politics
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Date
2013-11
Authors
Kalui, B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Politics takes place wherever conflict exists about goals and methods of achieving those goals (Renwick,
1987). Politics is defined in terms of the actions of the government, the authoritative use of power
to make rules and laws that have precedence over rules from other sources of society (Moodie, 1984). In
this paper an attempt is made to focus on the process of governmental decision making and policy implementation
regarding sport management. It might be unnecessary to define sport because most people
already know through experience and intuition what the word means. Sport implies having fun, but it
can also be work for a professional athlete, a means of employment or a business. Loy's (1968) classical
definition claims that sport must have five characteristics such as be play like in nature; involve some
element of competition; be based on physical prowess; involve elements of skill, strategy and character;
and have an uncertain outcome. Pitts, Fielding and Miller (1994) define sport as any activity, experience
or business enterprise focused on fitness, recreation, athletics, or leisure. The Olympics have since
their inception been closely associated with an ideology of social and technical progress. In particular,
these international sporting competitions have been used as a tool for expressing national and political
agendas (Lenskyj, 2000). In addition the economic value of the Olympics has increased dramatically overtime, especially through international broadcast rights (Barney et aI2002). For present purposes a
distinction is made between politics and sport and politics in sport especially the relationships of politics
to sport. For students of politics the stimulus for interest in sport was a product of two major issues in
international politics namely the cold war and the campaign against apartheid in South Africa whose
end was rewarded by granting of hosting of Fifa World Cup 2010, the highest ranking world event to
grace the soil of Africa. Other important aspects of sport and politics include issues of equity both racial
and gender involvement in matters of governance. The thrust of the paper therefore is to analyze and
stimulate debate on the role and involvement of state/government in politics and sport.
Description
The second international conference of the african sport management association(ASMA). 'Management of sport for development and peace'.7th to 9th Nov.2013. University of Dar Es-salaam,Tanzania.