Siekmann, Robert; Soek, Janwillem --- "Models of Sport Governance within the European Union" [2011] ELECD 814; in Nafziger, A.R. James; Ross, F. Stephen (eds), "Handbook on International Sports Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011)

Book Title: Handbook on International Sports Law

Editor(s): Nafziger, A.R. James; Ross, F. Stephen

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781847206336

Section: Chapter 5

Section Title: Models of Sport Governance within the European Union

Author(s): Siekmann, Robert; Soek, Janwillem

Number of pages: 19

Extract:

5 Models of sport governance within the
European Union
Robert Siekmann and Janwillem Soek



1. INTRODUCTION
In 2004 André-Noël Chaker published a study on `Good governance in Sport ­ A
European survey' which was commissioned by the Council of Europe.1 The Council of
Europe was the first international organisation established in Europe after the Second
World War. With 46 Member States, the Council of Europe currently represents the image
of a `wider Europe'. Its main objective is to strengthen democracy, human rights and the
rule of law. The Council of Europe was the first international intergovernmental organi-
sation to take initiatives, to establish legal instruments and to offer an institutional
framework for the development of sport at European level.2 The study covers the
sport-related legislation and governance regulations of 20 European countries. The aim of
this study was to measure and assess sport governance in each of the participating
countries. For the purposes of the study the term `sport governance' had been given a
specific meaning. Sport governance is the creation of effective networks of sport-related
state agencies, sport's non-governmental organisations and processes that operate jointly
and independently under specific legislation, policies and private regulations to promote
ethical, democratic, efficient and accountable sports activities. The legislative framework
of the countries under review was analysed according to whether they have references to
sport in their constitutions and whether they have a specific law on sport at national level.
There are two distinctive approaches to ...