Embedded Multi-Level Leadership in Elite Sport

This book represents an alternative perspective on international elite sport systems. It focusses on the embedded multi-level nature of leadership, and the scope that this might give for degrees of leadership autonomy and discretion.

The chapters show how mechanisms of leadership on different levels interact. The nature and mix of leadership mechanisms reflect values and expectations related to specific political, normative and commercial sport contexts. Three introductory chapters outline key elements of these dimensions of elite sport contexts. Seven empirical cases illustrate how national contexts facilitate and constrain leadership practices, related to specific sports across Russia, China, Ghana, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway and the US. The final chapter discusses embedded multi-level leadership from a comparative perspective. Based on the countries covered, the book distinguishes between three groups: state-dominated systems, state-elite sport partnership and countries with a passive state, with no state intervention.

This book is important reading for researchers and students with an interest in sport management, sport development, sport policy and sport governance, as well as for policy-makers, performance directors and managers working in elite sport.

Svein S. Andersen is Professor of organization studies at Oslo Business School, Norway. He has been an adjunct professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences and involved in the Elite Coach Program at the Norwegian elite sport organization, Olympiatoppen.

Per Øystein Hansen is Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Sport and Physical Education at Norway Inland University of Applied Sciences, and Associate Professor II at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. His research interest is primarily leadership of elite sports and values in sport organizations.

Barrie Houlihan is Emeritus Professor of Sport Policy at Loughborough University, UK and Visiting Professor at the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences. He was launch Editor of the International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics.