Title: Patterns of influence: relationship with the IOC as seen by the organisers of the Youth Olympic Winter Games 2016

Authors: Jon Helge Lesjø; Anna-Maria Strittmatter; Dag Vidar Hanstad

Addresses: Department of Economics and Organization Science, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Lillehammer, PB 400, 2418 Elverum, Norway ' Department of Cultural and Social Studies, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, PB 4014 Ullevål Stadion, 0806 Oslo, Norway ' Department of Cultural and Social Studies, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, PB 4014 Ullevål Stadion, 0806 Oslo, Norway

Abstract: The Youth Olympic Games (YOG) resembles the Olympic Games in many ways but it has its own identity and characteristics. In this article, we analyse patterns of influence between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and local organisers prior to the YOG 2016. The findings show that these patterns vary over time and between different areas of governance and management. The IOC in general follows event organisers rather losely through detailed manuals, routines of communications, and reports. According to local organisers, this model of governance fits big events such as the Olympics better than smaller events such as YOG. Through time and processes characterised by 'negotiated trust' however, local organisers gained more autonomy. This case shows that hosts can gain power through the control and trust mechanism and realise local projects.

Keywords: International Olympic Committee; IOC; governance structures; field theory; event management; Youth Olympic Games; YOG; Lillehammer 2016; influence; trust-control relationship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2017.087443

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2017 Vol.17 No.4/5/6, pp.331 - 350

Received: 02 Oct 2016
Accepted: 04 May 2017

Published online: 15 Oct 2017 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article