Understanding UK Sport Policy in Context

The London Olympics of 2012 acted as a focal point for an examination of UK sport policy. Individual chapters from leading specialists in their fields focus upon the central components of the UK’s ‘model’ of sport - for example elite, school and community sport and talent ID policies - and discuss what kind of ‘legacy’ 2012 is likely to leave on the sports landscape in years to come. The concept ‘legacy’ is a common theme running through all contributions which themselves stem from a wide variety of academic disciplines and sub-disciplines, including sport psychology, political science, sports studies, cultural studies and sociology. A wide range of topics and organisations are covered throughout the volume, including coaching, talent ID, school sports partnerships, PE and youth sport, participation in sport, the IOC and the Olympic Charter, the Olympic Movement and Islamic Culture and, finally, issues of regeneration through sports mega-events.

This book was published as a special issue of the International Journal of Sport Policy.

Jonathan Grix is one of the UK’s leading experts on sport politics and policy and has published widely in leading journals including Public Administration (2011), Public Policy and Administration (2011), International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics (2012), Journal of Sport and Tourism (2013) and British Journal of Politics and International Relations (2013).

Lesley Phillpots’ research interests focus primarily upon policy for sport, school sport and physical education. She has recently published on the governance of sport; youth sport development and county and school sport partnerships, including leading policy journals such as Public Policy and Administration (2011) and Physical Exercise and Sport Pedagogy (2012). She is currently investigating the experiences of female PGA golf professionals in the man’s world of golf.