The autonomy of sport concept: a scoping review
The autonomy of sport concept can be considered a fundamental principle within international sport governance. In essence, the principle signifies the right to self-regulation and reflects the ability of sport governing bodies (SGBs) to determine their own structures and rules, free from interferenc...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1593673/full |
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| author | Viktoriia Smirnova Pedro José Mercado Jaén Holger Preuss Thomas Könecke Thomas Könecke Thomas Könecke Mathias Schubert |
| author_facet | Viktoriia Smirnova Pedro José Mercado Jaén Holger Preuss Thomas Könecke Thomas Könecke Thomas Könecke Mathias Schubert |
| author_sort | Viktoriia Smirnova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The autonomy of sport concept can be considered a fundamental principle within international sport governance. In essence, the principle signifies the right to self-regulation and reflects the ability of sport governing bodies (SGBs) to determine their own structures and rules, free from interference by external actors. Despite growing academic and practitioner interest, there is still no consensus as to what the term “autonomy” exactly means and how widely the principle is (supposed to be) applied in a changing world of sport. This article systematically maps the extent of research on the concept of sport autonomy, including its applications and limitations. Based on the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), our review identified 205 records examining sport autonomy between 1982 and 2024. The results reveal a notable increase in sport autonomy research over the last decade, demonstrating the increasing importance of the topic. The majority of records is non-empirical and focus on international multi-sport governing bodies, highlighting a Western-dominated nature on sport autonomy. Based on a qualitative content analysis, we contribute to theory by extending the multidimensional understanding of sport autonomy. Autonomy is a dynamic and multifaceted concept that needs to be studied in the dimensions of the interlinked autonomies. Our findings indicate that the borders between autonomies in sport governance practice are ambiguous, calling for more empirically driven research in future assessments. The great heterogeneity of SGBs requires a sophisticated deconstruction of different dimensions and conceptualisations of autonomy of sport, focusing on autonomy as a spectrum. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-9bc7eade6c7745d992a61f0ae35bd982 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2624-9367 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Sports and Active Living |
| spelling | doaj-art-9bc7eade6c7745d992a61f0ae35bd9822025-08-20T02:09:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Sports and Active Living2624-93672025-06-01710.3389/fspor.2025.15936731593673The autonomy of sport concept: a scoping reviewViktoriia Smirnova0Pedro José Mercado Jaén1Holger Preuss2Thomas Könecke3Thomas Könecke4Thomas Könecke5Mathias Schubert6Institute of Sport Science, Department of Sport Economics, Sociology and History, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, GermanyDepartment of Law, European University Institute, Florence, ItalyInstitute of Sport Science, Department of Sport Economics, Sociology and History, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, GermanyPhysical Activity, Sports & Health Research Group, KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumiCERIS (interdisciplinary Centre for Ethics, Regulation and Integrity in Sport), KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumLISS (KU Leuven Institute of Sports Science), KU Leuven, Leuven, BelgiumInstitute of Sport Science, Department of Sport Economics, Sociology and History, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, GermanyThe autonomy of sport concept can be considered a fundamental principle within international sport governance. In essence, the principle signifies the right to self-regulation and reflects the ability of sport governing bodies (SGBs) to determine their own structures and rules, free from interference by external actors. Despite growing academic and practitioner interest, there is still no consensus as to what the term “autonomy” exactly means and how widely the principle is (supposed to be) applied in a changing world of sport. This article systematically maps the extent of research on the concept of sport autonomy, including its applications and limitations. Based on the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), our review identified 205 records examining sport autonomy between 1982 and 2024. The results reveal a notable increase in sport autonomy research over the last decade, demonstrating the increasing importance of the topic. The majority of records is non-empirical and focus on international multi-sport governing bodies, highlighting a Western-dominated nature on sport autonomy. Based on a qualitative content analysis, we contribute to theory by extending the multidimensional understanding of sport autonomy. Autonomy is a dynamic and multifaceted concept that needs to be studied in the dimensions of the interlinked autonomies. Our findings indicate that the borders between autonomies in sport governance practice are ambiguous, calling for more empirically driven research in future assessments. The great heterogeneity of SGBs requires a sophisticated deconstruction of different dimensions and conceptualisations of autonomy of sport, focusing on autonomy as a spectrum.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1593673/fullgovernanceregulatorsOlympic movementself-regulationgovernance evolution |
| spellingShingle | Viktoriia Smirnova Pedro José Mercado Jaén Holger Preuss Thomas Könecke Thomas Könecke Thomas Könecke Mathias Schubert The autonomy of sport concept: a scoping review Frontiers in Sports and Active Living governance regulators Olympic movement self-regulation governance evolution |
| title | The autonomy of sport concept: a scoping review |
| title_full | The autonomy of sport concept: a scoping review |
| title_fullStr | The autonomy of sport concept: a scoping review |
| title_full_unstemmed | The autonomy of sport concept: a scoping review |
| title_short | The autonomy of sport concept: a scoping review |
| title_sort | autonomy of sport concept a scoping review |
| topic | governance regulators Olympic movement self-regulation governance evolution |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fspor.2025.1593673/full |
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