TY - JOUR

T1 - The influence of macrocultural change on national governing bodies in British olympic sports

AU - Feddersen, NB

AU - Morris, R

AU - Abrahamsen, FE

AU - Littlewood, MA

AU - Richardson, DJ

PY - 2020/6/1

Y1 - 2020/6/1

N2 - The study objective was to examine the temporal macrocultural changes in Olympic sports in the United Kingdom and what regulates these changes. We carried out this study integrating grounded theory and action research in a 16-month longitudinal design. We collected data from eighteen interviews with participants from governing sports organisations (n = 6; GSOs) and NGBs (n = 3). Supplementary data came from ethnography with one national governing body; ten focus-groups with athletes, coaches, parents, and NGB personnel; and eight interviews with stakeholders. We found that political will had shielded Olympic sports from societal changes. However, macrocultural changes to social standards and the power of athletes highlighted that the organisational culture was increasingly deficient and required radical changes. GSOs used their systemic power to dictate appropriate avenues for change. Athletes used their reinforced position by speaking out about aspects that challenged the welfare of athletes and others working in Olympic sports.

AB - The study objective was to examine the temporal macrocultural changes in Olympic sports in the United Kingdom and what regulates these changes. We carried out this study integrating grounded theory and action research in a 16-month longitudinal design. We collected data from eighteen interviews with participants from governing sports organisations (n = 6; GSOs) and NGBs (n = 3). Supplementary data came from ethnography with one national governing body; ten focus-groups with athletes, coaches, parents, and NGB personnel; and eight interviews with stakeholders. We found that political will had shielded Olympic sports from societal changes. However, macrocultural changes to social standards and the power of athletes highlighted that the organisational culture was increasingly deficient and required radical changes. GSOs used their systemic power to dictate appropriate avenues for change. Athletes used their reinforced position by speaking out about aspects that challenged the welfare of athletes and others working in Olympic sports.

KW - 1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences

KW - 1504 Commercial Services

KW - 1608 Sociology

U2 - 10.1080/17430437.2020.1771306

DO - 10.1080/17430437.2020.1771306

M3 - Article

VL - 24

SP - 1698

EP - 1714

JO - Sport in Society

JF - Sport in Society

IS - 9

ER -