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.

1. Introduction: London 2012 and its legacies 2. Understanding the impact of sport coaching on legacy 3. ‘Scienciness’ and the allure of second-hand strategy in talent identification and development 4. An analysis of the policy process for physical education and school sport: the rise and demise of school sport partnerships 5. Physical education and youth sport in England: conceptual and practical foundations for an Olympic legacy? 6. The Olympic legacy and participation in sport: an interim assessment of Sport England’s Active People Survey for sports studies research 7. Can viewing London 2012 influence sport participation? – a viewpoint based on relevant theory 8. London 2012 Olympic legacy: a big sporting society? 9. The Olympic Movement and Islamic culture: conflict or compromise for Muslim women? 10. Policy transfer, regeneration legacy and the summer Olympic Games: lessons for London 2012 and beyond