'Adopt an athlete for Rio 2016': the impact of austerity on the Greek elite sport system. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)
- Record Type:
- Journal Article
- Title:
- 'Adopt an athlete for Rio 2016': the impact of austerity on the Greek elite sport system. Issue 1 (2nd January 2018)
- Main Title:
- 'Adopt an athlete for Rio 2016': the impact of austerity on the Greek elite sport system
- Authors:
- Papadimitriou, Dimitra
Alexandris, Konstantinos - Abstract:
- ABSTRACT: Drawing on the analysis of the experience of elite athletes in Greece during their 4-year preparation for competing in the 2016 Olympic Games, we report on the effects of the austerity measures on the country's elite sport system and policies. The data set for this study consisted of 16 semi-structured interviews of which 13 were conducted with Greek elite athletes participating in the 2016 Olympic Games and 3 were conducted with staff members of the Greek Olympic Committee supporting the Olympic delegation. The interview questions were based on the four pillars composing the throughput stage of the Sports Policy Factors Leading to International Sporting Success conceptual framework for analysing sports policy leading to international sporting success. The results clearly indicated that significant factors of the elite sport system were negatively influenced by the austerity measures in Greece. Because of the significant cuts in public spending, Olympic facilities were abandoned, highly qualified coaches became part-time employees, elite athletes were left with almost no opportunities to take part in international sport events and paramedical support for elite athletes was reduced drastically. The programme of the Greek Olympic Committee 'Adopt an athlete for Rio 2016' appeared as the only means for Greek elite athletes to make it to Rio de Janeiro, where they earned six Olympic medals. This study concluded that austerity measures have pronounced effects on eliteABSTRACT: Drawing on the analysis of the experience of elite athletes in Greece during their 4-year preparation for competing in the 2016 Olympic Games, we report on the effects of the austerity measures on the country's elite sport system and policies. The data set for this study consisted of 16 semi-structured interviews of which 13 were conducted with Greek elite athletes participating in the 2016 Olympic Games and 3 were conducted with staff members of the Greek Olympic Committee supporting the Olympic delegation. The interview questions were based on the four pillars composing the throughput stage of the Sports Policy Factors Leading to International Sporting Success conceptual framework for analysing sports policy leading to international sporting success. The results clearly indicated that significant factors of the elite sport system were negatively influenced by the austerity measures in Greece. Because of the significant cuts in public spending, Olympic facilities were abandoned, highly qualified coaches became part-time employees, elite athletes were left with almost no opportunities to take part in international sport events and paramedical support for elite athletes was reduced drastically. The programme of the Greek Olympic Committee 'Adopt an athlete for Rio 2016' appeared as the only means for Greek elite athletes to make it to Rio de Janeiro, where they earned six Olympic medals. This study concluded that austerity measures have pronounced effects on elite sport systems, but not necessarily on achieving Olympic success. … (more)
- Is Part Of:
- International journal of sport policy. Volume 10:Issue 1(2018)
- Journal:
- International journal of sport policy
- Issue:
- Volume 10:Issue 1(2018)
- Issue Display:
- Volume 10, Issue 1 (2018)
- Year:
- 2018
- Volume:
- 10
- Issue:
- 1
- Issue Sort Value:
- 2018-0010-0001-0000
- Page Start:
- 147
- Page End:
- 162
- Publication Date:
- 2018-01-02
- Subjects:
- Elite sport system -- sport development -- austerity measures -- sport policy
Sports and state -- Periodicals
Sports and state -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
Sports -- Political aspects -- Periodicals
Sports administration -- Periodicals
Sports administration
Sports and state
Sports -- Political aspects
Great Britain
Periodicals
353.7805 - Journal URLs:
- http://www.informatworld.com/RISP ↗
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/title~db=all~content=t790627367~tab=issueslist ↗
http://www.tandfonline.com/toc/risp20/current#.VozsaVLnmos ↗
http://www.tandfonline.com/ ↗ - DOI:
- 10.1080/19406940.2017.1416487 ↗
- Languages:
- English
- ISSNs:
- 1940-6959
- Deposit Type:
- Legaldeposit
- View Content:
- Available online (eLD content is only available in our Reading Rooms) ↗
- Physical Locations:
- British Library DSC - BLDSS-3PM
British Library HMNTS - ELD Digital store - Ingest File:
- 5953.xml