Finding the Belgian Tiger Woods. Learning from other sports and countries. Sports policy factors leading to international sporting success

Over the last few decades the power struggle between nations to be leading in major international competitions has intensified. This has led to national sports organisations and governments throughout the world spending increasing sums of money on elite sport. Several nations have indeed shown that elite sporting success can be produced by investing strategically in elite sport. Nations are searching for the keys to success by copying elite sport systems leading to increased homogeneous sport systems and less room for variation. Consequently, nations are searching for a competitive advantage, through early talent identification systems, support during talent development, the athletic career and coaches provisions. This presentation concerns an international comparison of elite sport policies in six nations (Belgium, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and United Kingdom). Over 1400 athletes, coaches and performance directors in these nations have provided information on the climate to perform at the highest level elite sport in their country. The study will show how nations have invested in elite sport, what their keys to effectiveness are and how they face future developments.
This study is part of a large scale study, called SPLISS, which stands for 'Sport Policy Factors Leading to International Sporting Success'. SPLISS has planned a follow-up study in 2010-2011, both at the overall sports level and sport by sport comparisons.