Although an increasing number of nations invest large amounts of money in sport in order to compete against other nations, there is no clear evidence that demonstrates how sports policies can influence international sporting success. This paper provides an overview of important determinants that can lead to nations enjoying international sporting success. The literature reveals that more than 50% of the determinants of success are macro-level variables that are beyond the control of politicians. The meso-level contains factors that can be influenced by sports policies. An empirically founded theory on the policy factors that determine elite sporting success has not yet been developed. In this paper a conceptual framework will be presented that can be used for making trans-national comparisons of elite sports policies. Nine policy areas, or ‘pillars’, that are thought to have an important influence on international sporting success are logically derived from the literature.

Countries all over the world implemented lockdowns to counteract COVID-19. These lockdowns heavily limited people’s exercise possibilities. At the same time, experts advocated to remain physically active to prevent future health problems. Based on an online survey, this study examines adults’ exercise levels and patterns during the COVID-19 lockdown in Belgium. Ordinal logistic regression analyses of 13,515 valid and population-weighted responses indicate a general increase in exercise frequencies, as well as in sedentary behavior. Except for people aged 55+, previously low active adults self-reported to exercise more during the lockdown. Among the people who were already high active before COVID-19, those above 55 years old, those with low education, those used to exercise with friends or in a sport club, and those who were not using online tools to exercise, self-reported to exercise less during the lockdown. Having less time, sitting more, and missing the familiar way and competitive element of exercising were the main reasons for a self-reported exercise reduction. Given the health risks associated with physical inactivity, results imply that governments should consider how those who were not reached can be encouraged to exercise during a lockdown. After all, additional COVID-19 lockdowns might be implemented in the future.

Talent identification at a young age is deemed essential for many national sporting organisations to increase the chances of success for their players on the international stage. Talent identification methods can be imprecise and national tennis associations and coaches often identify talent based on performances at youth tournaments and junior rankings. However, not much is known about the relationship between the international competition performances of young tennis players and later success. This relationship is explored in this study using comparisons based on: (a) the results of 3521 players at U14 youth tournaments; (b) the rankings of 377 junior players (U18) by the International Tennis Federation; (c) the rankings of 727 professional male players by the Association of Tennis Professionals; and (d) the rankings of 779 professional players by the Women's Tennis Association. Junior performances (U18) and performances at youth tournaments (U14) appear to have a low success rate in predicting later success. No distinct age was found at which players should start to perform in order to be successful at the professional level. It is concluded that even though good performances at young ages increase athletes' chances to become elite players, they are not a precondition for achieving later success. Therefore, this study informs talent scouts, sport development officers, coaches and high performance managers of the role that performances at international youth competitions may play in talent identification in tennis.Griffith Business School, Department of Tourism, Sport and Hotel ManagementFull Tex

Countries continue to seek ways to achieve and sustain elite athlete success. However, competitive advantages in elite sport are largely found within individual sports' contexts and policies. This paper uses tennis as an exemplar and mixed methods to examine sport-specific policy and other factors that influence international success. Thirty-five international tennis experts participated in a questionnaire which combined (a) open questions, and (b) Likert scale questions, based on the Sport Policy Factors that Lead to International Success (SPLISS) model. The findings support the significance of the SPLISS model at a tennis specific level. The most significant contribution of this paper rests on the emergence of two contextual themes, namely culture and commercial environment, which help explain the context within which tennis operates. These findings are important for understanding the ways elite sport success is fostered in professional sports like tennis and potentially transferring that knowledge to other commercialised sports. The paper advances the theoretical understanding of the combined meso-level and contextual factors at a sport-specific level that influence international success. The practical implications address high performance directors' and sport policy makers' challenge of nurturing and enhancing the tennis culture and commercial environment.Griffith Business School, Department of Tourism, Sport and Hotel ManagementFull Tex

Many governments use the trickle-down or demonstration effect to justify their high investments in an elite sport. The assumption is that elite success increases mass participation. Evidence of a relationship between elite success and mass participation is fragmented, and previous studies have mostly failed to demonstrate a connection. Nevertheless, many authors assert the need for more research on this relationship. This study examines the effect of elite sport on mass participation. The study uses Pearson's correlations to analyse the relationship between membership data and athlete success (using the elite sport index) in Flanders over the past 15 years. The membership figures from Flanders were compared with figures from the Netherlands to identify the common trends. Analysis across 20 sports revealed no consistent relationship between membership levels and success. Positive correlations were notable in Flanders in four of the eight sports in which elite Flemish competitors achieved significant international successes during the study period (athletics, gymnastics, judo and tennis). The analysis suggests that a trickle-down effect is not likely to occur automatically but might be found under specific conditions. This leads us to call for new studies that bypass the question of whether there is such a relationship and concentrate on why, how and when this relationship occurs.