Sport Policy and Development: An Introduction - Softcover

"In a context of ever-growing state involvement in sport, here is a much- needed, comprehensive review of all areas of sport policy, paying equal attention to policy development, implementation, and the outcomes which, as this book shows, are usually rather different to all the key actors' intentions", Professor Ken Roberts, School of Sociology and Social Policy, University of Liverpool

"An extremely useful teaching aid ... It makes a clear, concise and important contribution to the existing sport policy literature", Peter Millward, Managing Leisure

"Many books aspire to be both accessible to practitioners and academics but encounter problems truly speaking to the former. This book does so by using accessible language and adopting a strong narrative throughout each of the chapters making the reader keen to find out what happens next in the sports development policy story. It also manages to engage all aspects of the sports development spectrum from elite sport through to grass roots activity. For those specialising in either area, this book will provide valuable insights into the broader context for sport.", Amy Shephard, Leisure Studies

• Who makes sport policy and why do we need it?
• What is the purpose of sport development programmes?

Sport Policy and Development answers these questions and more by closely examining the complex relationships between modern sport, sport policy and development and other aspects of the wider society. These important issues are explored via detailed case studies of key aspects of sport policy and sport development activity, including:

• school sport and physical education
• social inclusion
• health
• elite sport
• sporting mega-events.

Each case study demonstrates the ways in which the sport policy and development fields have changed, and are continually changing in response to the increasing political, social and cultural significance of sport. The book helps the reader to understand the complexities of the sport policy-making process, the increasing intervention of government in the sport policy and development fields, and how the short-term, ever-changing and frequently contradictory political priorities of government come to impact on the practice of sport policy and development.

Accessible and engaging, this textbook is an invaluable introduction to sport policy and sport development for students, practitioners and policy-makers alike.