۱- Introduction

۲- Sport for development theory

۳- Literature review

۴- Method

۵- Results and discussion

۶- Conclusions

References

Abstract

There is an abundance of social issues, both health-related and otherwise, that health professionals and sport managers can address using sport as a mechanism. However, there is much debate regarding the impact sport is making in achieving development goals. In this study, the authors utilised a case study design to explore how stakeholders perceive the management of health-focused sport for development (SFD) programmes to contribute to the achievement of desired programmatic goals. The authors provided a side-by-side assessment of a sport-plus and sport-plus programme, through a qualitative case study design. Results indicate that while stakeholder perceptions of goal achievement are similar, the strengths of each type of programme vary. The authors discuss implications for these differences and the importance of stakeholder perspective in SFD.

Introduction

Sport is often closely connected to physical activity and health outcomes. Scholars have documented sport’s ability to combat chronic disease and improve mental health, contributing to its overall usefulness as a tool for improved health (Booth et al., 2016; Frederick & Ryan, 1993; Kujawska et al., 2017; Naikoo & Yaday, 2017; Sallis, 2017). As a result, healthfocused sport for development (SFD) organisations have gained traction and appeal over the past several decades. SFD represents “the use of sport to exert a positive influence on public health, the socialisation of children, youths and adults, the social inclusion of the disadvantaged, the economic development of regions and states, and on fostering intercultural exchange and conflict resolution” (Lyras & Welty Peachey, 2011, p. 311). The field of SFD has grown (Brunelli & Parisi, 2011; Houlihan & White, 2002; Schulenkorf et al., 2016), offering programming that has the potential to communicate across barriers of language, religion, race, and gender (Gerin, 2007; Trunkos & Heere, 2017; Wolff, 2011). Sport is one area of SFD which has received significant attention concerning its ability to positively impact health. SFD organisations focused on combating health issues as well as raising awareness around health concerns and healthy habits demonstrate the connection between sport and health (Hershow et al., 2015; Richards et al., 2016; Warner et al., 2017). While many SFD programmes have focused on impacting health, it is unclear which aspects of SFD programming are most influential when used as a mechanism for improving health. Scholars have noted that well directed, locally grounded, and clearly focused SFD programmes (health related or otherwise) work best (Schulenkorf, 2010a; Sherry, 2010; Sugden, 2006).