Title: Policy transfer, lesson drawing and perspectives on elite sport development systems

Authors: Mick Green

Addresses: School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Institute of Sport and Leisure Policy, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK

Abstract: Over the past 40 years at least, governments have shown a considerable willingness to devote significant sums of public or government controlled money (e.g. national lotteries) to the maintenance or improvement of elite (Olympic) sporting success. With a focus on the relationship between the UK and Australia, this paper explores the salience of the concepts of policy transfer and lesson drawing in an analysis of the development of elite sport systems. The evidence suggests that sport policymakers and bureaucrats in the UK have drawn lessons from Australia but primarily in the form of policy ideas or generalised discourses that legitimise and prioritise elite objectives. A |dominant| elite sport discourse has potential ramifications for the design, implementation and evaluation of sport programmes. The conclusions therefore draw attention to some of the (potentially) deleterious consequences for sport management practice in the light of this dominant policy discourse.

Keywords: policy transfer; lesson drawing; sport policy; elite sport development; Olympic Games; UK; United Kingdom; Australia; sport programmes; sport management.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSMM.2007.013715

International Journal of Sport Management and Marketing, 2007 Vol.2 No.4, pp.426 - 441

Published online: 22 May 2007 *

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