Augstu sasniegumu sporta vadība Latvijā. Promocijas darba kopsavilkums / High Performance Sport Management in Latvia. Summary of the Doctoral Thesis

„CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS” in Latin or „Higher, Faster, Stronger” in English is the Olympic motto defining the aim of sport and expressing the efforts of the Olympic movement. The Olympic motto tells us about continuous progress. In competing, it is necessary to be the first, to overcome records, and to go over limitations. A gold medal in the Olympic Games is the most recognized symbol of achievements in sport, and it represents the highest point of sportive competence. Not all athletes can qualify for the Olympic Games, and, anyway, there are only three places on the victory stand (Starkes, Ericsson, 2003). What is necessary to get to the victory stand? Progress in high performance sport is no longer only the personal aim of an individual athlete. Support for athletes and for making sportive progress is intimately linked to high performance sport. Essentially, high performance sport needs international success (De Bosscher, Shibli, 2015). Some states increase investments in high performance sport to develop the athletes who will represent the state at the principal competitions in order to gain international success (Andersen, Ronglan, 2012; De Bosscher, Shibli, 2015; Digel, 2005; Lyle, 1997; Sotiriadou, De Bosscher, 2013) and to achieve more extensive aims, such as winning international prominence, facilitating patriotism and developing economy (Bergsgard, Houlihan, Mangset, Nodland, Rommetvedt, 2007; Grix, Carmichael, 2011; Houlihan, Green, 2008). Success in sport results from a combination of countless factors. Every scientist tries to answer the question of what these factors are and how important is each of them. Scholars have considered multiple factors, which influence high performance sport and, consequently, success in it. Thus, physical, technical and tactical skills, psychic and emotional skills, genetic factors, trainings and practice, access to qualified coaches, equipment and sport buildings, as well as ability to participate in international competitions (for example, resources to cover the costs of international travel and participation in competitions) (Starkes, Ericsson 2003). Several scientists have conducted studies in the field of sport with the aim of defining the most essential factors for gaining international success (De Bosscher, Bingham, Shibli, Van Bottenburg, De Knop 2007; Houlihan, Green, 2008; Sotiriadou, Shilbury, 2009; Andersen, Ronglan, 2012; Singh, Dureja, 2014; Smolianov, Gallo, Naylor, 2014) and studying the similar and different features in preparation systems (Green, Oakley, 2001; Digel, 2005; Green, Houlihan, 2005), comparing the sport management systems in different countries (for example, Australia, Canada, France, Spain, the UK, China, Poland, Russia, the USA, Italy, Norway, Austria, and Germany) (Andersen, Ronglan, 2012; Bergsgard et al., 2007; Houlihan, Green, 2008). In view of the development of high performance sport systems in Europe and in the world, and analyzing tendencies in high performance sport in Latvia, it should be noted that previous studies of high performance sport management in Latvia could not be found. It should be concluded that currently there are not many studies about high performance sport management in Latvia. Based on the regulations of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Latvia confirmed in 2003, the Ministry of Education and Science (MES) is the state management institution responsible for the field of sport. Still, every year over half of the state funding is entrusted by the state to non-govermental sports organizations for performing the tasks that are delegated and described in the Sports Law. In the Latvian policy planning documents on the sports policy, the stated priorities are the sport for children and youth and sport for all (LR MK, 2013). High performance sport is one of the four sport policy directions with the aim of ensuring that high performance sport athletes and state selections (including those in team sport games) could prepare and participate in the Olympic Games, the World Championships, and European Championships, as well as in the world-level mind sport games (in sport games qualification tournaments and final competitions) (LR Saeima, 2002b). Disagreements emerge when the aims and objectives set in documents must be achieved, because, in view of the above, it should be concluded that success are not only desirable but also necessary. Therefore, the question arises what the management of high performance sport in Latvia is. The theme of the thesis was selected based on the fact that success in high performance sport is important not only for the athlete but also for the entire country and, to be successful, the athlete needs versatile support. For high performance sport to develop in a country, this sport must be managed, so that administration has an important role in the development of high performance sport. The most common definition used also by other researchers define high performance sport as the participation of an athlete in competitions of the highest level, such as the European or the World Championships and the Olympic Games (Torres, McLaughlin, 2015; De Bosscher, Shibli, 2015; Andersen, Ronglan, 2012). In developing a management system for high performance sport in the country, it is necessary to take into account the factors that influence the development of high performance sport and international success and that can be influenced by the administration because there are also factors that cannot be influenced by officials. Hence, it can be concluded that planning the development of high performance sport in the long term and providing support for the athlete will enhance their success in high performance sport. Based on the above and on the identified contradictions, one can judge the topicality of the theme selected for the doctoral study ‘Management of High Performance Sport in Latvia’.

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