SPORT MANAGEMENT PROBLEMS IN POST INDUSTRIAL REGIONS ON EXAMPLE OF CITIES IN SILESIA PROVINCE

Abstract

Contemporary sport is a social and economic phenomenon. These two areas require special analysis in the process of managing the development of sport by city administrations. The restructuring of the region's economy and the closure of heavy industry companies are changing the methods of financing sports. The main aim of the article is to indicate the key problems of sport management by the city governments in the time of socio-economic changes in Poland for last years, on the example of the one of the most industrialized regions in Europe – Silesia province. To achieve this aim, the methods of analyzing the literature of the subject, reports on sport market and strategic documents of selected city administrations were used. The study focuses on cities where for many years sport was financed from the budgets of the largest companies (heavy industry companies). The author is aware of the limitations associated with this research and inference resulting from a small research sample and the dynamics of changes in the economy but the process of economic changes in the region is still strongly influencing on sport market. The involvement of public funds both from the city and the central administration seems necessary. Especially with regard to the maintenance of the existing sports infrastructure. Money for sports clubs requires clear access criteria and transparency in decision-making processes. It is important to strategically plan the development of sport. The development ought to be understood not only as a numerical / quantitative growth, but also a qualitative one. The described and analyzed factors influencing the development of the sport market, including in particular the management dilemmas during economic changes in Europe, can be used by local governments to effectively support sport development market. The article has been based on analyzing many former and still existing strategic documents which are referring to sport management in the region. Author and also has referred to the concept of the development of the sport market in the time of industrial changes in Silesia province.