LJU4804
Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026
Unique number:
Due Date: 30 March 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1: Grix, J. and Carmichael, F. 2012. Why do governments invest in elite
sport: A polemic. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics; 4:1, 73-90. ...... 3
ARTICLE 2: Heere, B., Walker, M., Gibson, H. et al. 2013. The power of sport to unite a
nation: the social value of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Europeans Sport
Management Quarterly, 13:4, 450-471. ............................................................................ 8
ARTICLE 3: Kidd, B. 1988. The campaign against sport in South Africa. International
Journal; 43:4, 643-664. ................................................................................................... 12
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen as a
replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged to perform
their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information in
these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content. The buyer is
responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when applying it to their
assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's policies
regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and sources of
inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may be considered
academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences arising from
the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or any other negative
consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1: Grix, J. and Carmichael, F. 2012. Why do governments invest in
elite sport: A polemic. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics; 4:1,
73-90. .................................................................................................................................. 3
ARTICLE 2: Heere, B., Walker, M., Gibson, H. et al. 2013. The power of sport to
unite a nation: the social value of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Europeans Sport Management Quarterly, 13:4, 450-471. .............................................. 8
ARTICLE 3: Kidd, B. 1988. The campaign against sport in South Africa.
International Journal; 43:4, 643-664. ............................................................................. 12
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
ARTICLE 1: Grix, J. and Carmichael, F. 2012. Why do governments invest in
elite sport: A polemic. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics; 4:1,
73-90.
a) Overview of the Article
The article by Grix and Carmichael (2012) examines the reasons why governments
invest large amounts of public resources in elite sport. The authors focus primarily on
the United Kingdom as a case study, although they also refer to other countries such
as Australia, Canada and former socialist states like the Soviet Union and East
Germany. Their central objective is to critically analyse the assumptions that
governments use to justify investing in elite sport programmes and international
sporting success.
According to the article, elite sport has become a significant priority in modern
government policy. Governments often allocate large sums of public funds to support
elite athletes, national teams and international competitions such as the Olympic
Games. For example, the United Kingdom invested hundreds of millions of pounds in
elite sport preparation leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. This
demonstrates the increasing political importance attached to elite sport policy.
The authors argue that government investment in elite sport is commonly justified
through what they describe as the “virtuous cycle of sport”. This model suggests
that elite sporting success increases national pride and international prestige. It is
also believed to inspire ordinary citizens to participate in sport. Increased
participation is then expected to improve public health and create a larger pool of
talented athletes who can become future champions.
However, the article questions whether these assumptions are supported by
empirical evidence. The authors argue that many of the claims used to justify
government spending on elite sport are based more on political discourse than on
strong research findings. In particular, they highlight that there is limited evidence
showing that success in elite sport actually leads to increased participation among
the general population.
Assignment 1 Semester 1 2026
Unique number:
Due Date: 30 March 2026
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1: Grix, J. and Carmichael, F. 2012. Why do governments invest in elite
sport: A polemic. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics; 4:1, 73-90. ...... 3
ARTICLE 2: Heere, B., Walker, M., Gibson, H. et al. 2013. The power of sport to unite a
nation: the social value of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Europeans Sport
Management Quarterly, 13:4, 450-471. ............................................................................ 8
ARTICLE 3: Kidd, B. 1988. The campaign against sport in South Africa. International
Journal; 43:4, 643-664. ................................................................................................... 12
DISCLAIMER & TERMS OF USE
Educational Aid: These study notes are intended to be used as educational resources and should not be seen as a
replacement for individual research, critical analysis, or professional consultation. Students are encouraged to perform
their own research and seek advice from their instructors or academic advisors for specific assignment guidelines.
Personal Responsibility: While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information in
these study notes, the seller does not guarantee the completeness or correctness of all content. The buyer is
responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information and exercising their own judgment when applying it to their
assignments.
Academic Integrity: It is essential for students to maintain academic integrity and follow their institution's policies
regarding plagiarism, citation, and referencing. These study notes should be used as learning tools and sources of
inspiration. Any direct reproduction of the content without proper citation and acknowledgment may be considered
academic misconduct.
Limited Liability: The seller shall not be liable for any direct or indirect damages, losses, or consequences arising from
the use of these notes. This includes, but is not limited to, poor academic performance, penalties, or any other negative
consequences resulting from the application or misuse of the information provided.
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLE 1: Grix, J. and Carmichael, F. 2012. Why do governments invest in
elite sport: A polemic. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics; 4:1,
73-90. .................................................................................................................................. 3
ARTICLE 2: Heere, B., Walker, M., Gibson, H. et al. 2013. The power of sport to
unite a nation: the social value of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
Europeans Sport Management Quarterly, 13:4, 450-471. .............................................. 8
ARTICLE 3: Kidd, B. 1988. The campaign against sport in South Africa.
International Journal; 43:4, 643-664. ............................................................................. 12
, For additional support +27 81 278 3372
ARTICLE 1: Grix, J. and Carmichael, F. 2012. Why do governments invest in
elite sport: A polemic. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics; 4:1,
73-90.
a) Overview of the Article
The article by Grix and Carmichael (2012) examines the reasons why governments
invest large amounts of public resources in elite sport. The authors focus primarily on
the United Kingdom as a case study, although they also refer to other countries such
as Australia, Canada and former socialist states like the Soviet Union and East
Germany. Their central objective is to critically analyse the assumptions that
governments use to justify investing in elite sport programmes and international
sporting success.
According to the article, elite sport has become a significant priority in modern
government policy. Governments often allocate large sums of public funds to support
elite athletes, national teams and international competitions such as the Olympic
Games. For example, the United Kingdom invested hundreds of millions of pounds in
elite sport preparation leading up to the London 2012 Olympic Games. This
demonstrates the increasing political importance attached to elite sport policy.
The authors argue that government investment in elite sport is commonly justified
through what they describe as the “virtuous cycle of sport”. This model suggests
that elite sporting success increases national pride and international prestige. It is
also believed to inspire ordinary citizens to participate in sport. Increased
participation is then expected to improve public health and create a larger pool of
talented athletes who can become future champions.
However, the article questions whether these assumptions are supported by
empirical evidence. The authors argue that many of the claims used to justify
government spending on elite sport are based more on political discourse than on
strong research findings. In particular, they highlight that there is limited evidence
showing that success in elite sport actually leads to increased participation among
the general population.
