Elien Claes

Belgium: Flanders — Sport Federations and Governmental Sport Bodies

This chapter focuses on the relationship between governmental sport bodies and sport federations in Belgium. Because the competence with regard to sports is the responsibility of the communities, this chapter will focus on the example of Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern part of Belgium. The relationship is studied from the theoretical perspective of principal–agent theory. This approach reveals the relationship between the main governmental body for sport in Flanders, as the principal, and the Flemish sport federations, as the agents. The relationship is heavily based on the way sport federations are steered and supported by the government, as laid down in the decree on sport federations. The Flemish government calls upon the sport federations to achieve sport policy goals in return for subsidies. Sport federations are, therefore, best seen as intermediaries between the policy makers and the sport clubs, being heavily dependent on both and challenged by keeping a fragile balance.

Sport policy in Flanders (Belgium)

ABSTRACT This article reviews the state of play and the evolution of sport policy in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern part of Belgium. The organisation of sports is influenced by the political structure of the Belgian state. To explain the distinctive politics and to provide insight into the context in which sport policy, and in particular Sport for All policy, is situated, the constitution of Belgium and its regions is discussed. After an overview of the history and the development of sport policy, the organisation of sports and the main actors in the landscape of sports in Flanders are analysed. Apart from the public sector, the role of both the not-for-profit and commercial sectors is also dealt with. To conclude, evolutions in Flemish sport policy and the related challenges are discussed.

Does It Take Two to Tango? The Position and Power of National Sport bodies Compared to Their Public Authorities

Since the origin of modern sport in the eighteenth to nineteenth century in Western countries, sport bodies such as federations and clubs have been acting almost entirely independent of governmental intrusion (Chappelet, 2010). In fact, the roots of modern sport refer to one of the basic ideas behind classic liberalism, i.e. the freedom of association, which infers the right to self-regulate. As Szymanski (2006) states, humans have a strong tendency to create social networks and organisations outside of their families. Such voluntary associations are fond of their autonomy. To date, sport federations and sports clubs continue to feel very strongly about their autonomy and their ability to self-regulate. Moreover, for most of the twentieth century non-profit sport associations have almost been the sole providers of sport activities by offering competitions and facilities in which sport participation could take place.