Strengthening Athlete Power in Sport
▶Summary
Background In the 2010s, calls for good governance in sport emerged at the top of the global agenda after several corruption and doping scandals. It became evident athletes' participation in decision-making in sport was restricted or neglected. SAPIS set out to remedy that, as athletes are the sine qua non of the sports industry and should be able to more strongly influence their environment, especially as sports federations are in principle democratic structures with a duty to involve their members. Objectives SAPIS set out to strengthen athletes’ influence in sport by analysing the opportunities for athletes to be represented in and effectively contribute to decision-making in their sport. Through the involvement of athletes in sports governing structures, their working conditions will be improved and they will be less exposed to risks affecting their health and well-being. Finally, the legitimacy of sport will be strengthened and ultimately sport will perform better as a positive societal force. Implementation For the first time, academics and athlete representatives joined forces to strengthen athlete power through these steps:- A literature review with overview of what is known about athlete representation- Mapping formal athlete representation structures- Survey & interviews among athlete representatives- Research into best and innovative practices- Regional seminars in FI, NL and ES, and international conference in BE- A Good Practice Guide and a full research report (www.athletepower.eu) Achievements The final SAPIS report presents the first solid and nuanced evidence base on athlete representation in theory and practice, analysing strengths and limitations of different models and suggesting best practices. The SAPIS Good Practice Guide serves as a practical tool for athlete representatives, whether acting in sports commissions, unions, or advocacy groups. The guide provides athletes representatives with knowledge, recommendations and checklists for greater efficacy in their functions.