Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1
Ph.d student of sports management in University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran - Faculty member of Sports Management, Faculty of Physical Education, University of Sulaymaniyah, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq.
2
professor of sports management, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
3
professor of sports management,University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
Abstract
Extended Abstract
Background and Purposes
Multilevel governance has emerged as one of the most widely accepted governance theories over the past two decades. This governance framework emphasizes the involvement of non-governmental actors and the interplay between middle and micro-level entities in guiding fundamental processes. Sport represents a domain with significant potential for the application of multilevel governance principles. Cooperation within sports systems is shaped by countries’ overarching governance and management structures and influenced by an intricate network of public, private, and social institutions and organizations. Sports governance incorporates policy-making, planning, resource provision and support, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation processes, all aimed at facilitating the development of sport.
Evidence indicates that sports development in both Iraq's central government and the Kurdistan Regional Government suffers from a considerable need for advancement. However, an accurate understanding and comprehensive data concerning the governance status remain lacking. This study was therefore designed to formulate a framework for applying multilevel governance toward the development and management of sports amid crisis conditions in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
Methods
This qualitative research employed a thematic analysis approach to examine governance intricacies. The study population comprised experts in relevant fields, including:
University professors specializing in sports management, political science, governance, economics, and development within the Kurdistan Region.
Sports managers and decision-makers operating within the Kurdistan Region’s various governing bodies—such as councils related to sports development, ministries overseeing sports, the Olympic Committee, provincial sports organizations, physical education authorities, and municipal administrations.
Participants were selected via snowball sampling to ensure depth and representativeness, continuing until theoretical saturation was achieved. Sixteen individuals were ultimately interviewed. Data collection integrated exploratory interviews with comprehensive library research to contextualize findings. Validity was ensured by confirming the expertise of interviewees, assessing content validity of the interview framework, and verifying coder agreement (intercoder reliability of 0.72) facilitated by two sports management experts. Interviews adhered to a pre-established analytical framework. To enhance internal validity, feedback was solicited from participants during interview progression without influencing their responses. Data collection spanned six months, with saturation determined when no novel information arose from successive interviews. Instead of traditional validity metrics, qualitative criteria such as acceptability, transferability, and confirmability were applied. Expert peer review validated both the transcript contents and the interview instrument, supplemented by methodological rigor in coding and consensus among coders.
Results
The study’s conceptual framework extracted from the data comprises 184 core components, 60 sub-themes, 23 main themes, and 8 overarching conceptual substructures. These substructures are defined as:
Challenges of Kurdistan sports governance
Environmental adaptation of Kurdistan sports governance
Alignment of sports governance levels
Multilevel governance in Kurdistan sports
Capacity building for governance implementation
Multilevel governance implementation strategies
Optimization processes in governance
Consequences of multilevel sports governance in Kurdistan
The environmental adaptation substructure encompasses key perspectives, including developments in international sports governance, and an assessment of the effectiveness of Iraqi and Kurdistan Region sports governance capacities. The challenges substructure highlights environmental crises within sports governance, systemic obstacles, and barriers hindering the enactment of multilevel governance. The alignment substructure covers convergence among governance institutions, synchronization of executive governance levels, and coordination across sports management tiers.
Regarding multilevel governance itself, the framework details its fundamental requirements for sport and specific considerations pertinent to its implementation in sports. Capacity building spans four domains: management, economics, social dimensions, and scientific foundations related to sports governance. Implementation strategies reflect system efficiency, efforts toward internationalization of governance, and agility in responding to crisis contexts.
Conclusion
The developed framework is instrumental for applying multilevel governance models within Iraqi sports. Given the complex challenges faced by developing countries, including Iraq and its Kurdistan Autonomous Region, successful adoption requires adaptation tailored to regional institutional structures and realities. Kurdistan’s unique governance environment—operating alongside the central Iraqi government—offers a promising theoretical fit for multilevel sports governance.
The proposed theoretical model clarifies that sports policy development and execution are rarely confined to a single governance level; rather, they emerge from intricate inter-organizational interactions spanning multiple governmental and sporting bodies. This process-oriented and specialized approach necessitates addressing distinct contextual conditions and facilitating coordinated collaboration to realize governance objectives effectively.
Keywords: Sports Governance, Levels of Governance, Crisis Management, Iraqi Kurdistan
Article Message
This research introduces an innovative framework for advancing multilevel governance in sports development and crisis management. Findings underscore that success hinges upon coordinated action across governance tiers, dynamic responsiveness to environmental shifts, and process optimization. Crucially, a systematic yet flexible governance perspective that simultaneously tackles structural challenges while enhancing organizational efficiency is required. This framework serves as a strategic reference for policymakers and sports administrators operating within complex political and social environments.
Ethical Considerations
All ethical standards pertinent to research were rigorously observed. Participants engaged voluntarily, fully informed of study aims, retaining the right to withdraw at any time. Confidentiality of identities and data was strictly maintained. The study received approval by the relevant institutional ethics committee.
Authors’ Contributions
Derived from a doctoral dissertation, this work reflects collaborative contribution among the principal researcher (a doctoral student), primary and secondary supervisors, and advisory faculty members.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no conflicts of interest. All stages of the research—from design through implementation and analysis—were executed impartially and adhered to established scientific standards. No financial or professional interests influenced the study.
Acknowledgments
The authors extend sincere gratitude to the professors, experts, and specialists who participated in interviews and provided professional consultation. Their committed involvement was essential for the successful completion of this research.
Keywords
Main Subjects
