There is a rising tendency among countries to prioritise some sports over others and make higher investments of money and resources in their elite development (Green and Oakley, 2001). Such policies and strategies are adopted in the UK, too. Some sports are considered more likely to bring Olympic medals than others and therefore, they are targeted to receive higher funding. Those placed outside the selection are more likely to face challenges in practices to develop their winning potential. Following further research in this occurrence, authors have sought evidences for an inter-relation between funding and performance (Garrett, 2004; Green, 2005; De Bosscher, et.al 2006). In addition, some have explored other influential factors and have stressed on the importance of participation in sport, as the quality and quantity of the talent pool plays a vital role in elite athletes’ development (Sam, 2012; Girginov and Hills, 2008; Shibli, 2012). As a result of an in-depth research, an extensive academic knowledge on Elite Sports policies and sport development has been built, as well as on each of the concepts of funding, performance and participation. There are many studies focused on the case of the UK in particular (Houlihan, 2004; Green, 2006). However, fewer authors have studied these concepts in pairs (mainly funding and performance), and none have examined the relationship and impacts of all three (Grix and Phillpots, 2011; Vayens, et.al 2009; Martindale, et.al 2007). This research will aim to establish if such relationship exists between Olympic sports funding distribution, Olympic performance, and national participation numbers. It will provide a critical review of the British sport system and relevant policies, and it will explore where the written policies do not reflect the relevant actions undertaken. Using mixed methods the impacts of the applied policies will be critically discussed. The gap this study aims to fulfil will contribute to the existing knowledge on elite sport development by providing a better understanding on how funding, performance and participation are related and the impacts some taken-for-granted assumptions have caused.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Considering the growing poverty and unemployment in South Africa, there is clearly an urgent need for development, particularly among the historically disadvantaged communities where the level of inequality is the highest. Sport has been viewed by a number of scholars as a possible vehicle for developing communities. In this regard, involvement in sport and exercise has been linked to psychological wellbeing, capacity building and skills development among adolescents, which leads to the empowerment of individuals. This study investigates the functioning of a Sport Development Academy, which uses canoeing as a mechanism to improve the quality of lives of people living in a rural community in The Valley of a Thousand Hills in Kwa-Zulu Natal. This qualitative investigation targeted a group of seven young men, between the ages of nineteen and twenty-nine years old, who were interviewed in order to examine their lived experiences as a result of participating in the Academy and the extent to which the Academy impacted positively on their lives. The Positive Youth Development Paradigm, Bronfenbrenner’s Eco-Systems Theory and the Athlete-Coach relationship view, was used as a lens through which the research findings were examined. The Athletes in the Academy learnt a number of values and skills such as hard work, determination and respect. They became involved in pro-social behaviors as opposed to anti-social behaviors due to their participation in the sport development programme. This participation resulted in the gaining of social capital which can lead to upward social mobility. The capacity of these athletes has also been improved. These above factors improve the psychological wellbeing of the individuals and equip them with essential values and skills that make them more employable. The research findings suggest that the involvement of the seven young men in the Academy produced a number of positive impacts. Therefore, the results of the research indicate that sport can be used, to a certain extent, as a vehicle through which development can occur. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Groeiende armoede en werkloosheid in Suid-Afrika dui dat daar duidelik 'n dringende behoefte vir ontwikkeling, veral onder die voorheen-benadeelde gemeenskappe is waar die vlak van ongelykheid die hoogste is. Sommige navorsers sien sport as 'n moontlike voertuig vir die ontwikkeling van hierdie gemeenskappe. In hierdie verband word betrokkenheid in sport en oefening gekoppel aan sielkundige welstand, kapasiteitsbou en die ontwikkeling van vaardighede onder tieners wat lei tot die bemagtiging van individue. Hierdie studie ondersoek die funksionering van 'n sportakademie wat gebruik maak van die sport kanovaart as 'n meganisme om die gehalte van die lewens van mense te verbeter wat woon in die landelike gemeenskap van die Vallei van 'n Duisend Heuwels in Kwa -Zulu Natal. Hierdie kwalitatiewe ondersoek van 'n groep van sewe jong mans, tussen die ouderdomme van negentien en nege-en-twintig jaar oud, het bestaan uit onderhoude wat gevoer is om hul ondervindinge te ondersoek as 'n gevolg van hul deelname aan die Akademie en die mate waarin dit ‘n positiewe impak op hul lewens gehad het. Die Positiewe Jeugontwikkeling Paradigma, Bronfenbrenner se Ekosisteemtoerie en die atleet - afrigter verhouding is gebruik as 'n lens waardeur die bevindinge ondersoek is. Die atlete in die Akademie het 'n aantal waardes en vaardighede aangeleer soos harde werk, deursettingsvermoë en respek. Hulle het betrokke geraak in pro-sosiale gedrag in teenstelling met anti-sosiale gedrag as gevolg van hul deelname in die ontwikkelingsprogram. Dit het gelei tot die toename van hul sosiale kapitaal wat gelei het tot groter sosiale mobiliteit. Die kapasiteit van hierdie atlete is ook verbeter. Die bogenoemde faktore het gelei tot die verbetering van hul sielkundige welstand en om hulle toe te rus met noodsaaklike waardes en vaardighede om hulle meer geskik te maak vir toekomstige loopbane. Die navorsing dui verder daarop dat die betrokkenheid van die sewe jong mans in die Akademie 'n aantal positiewe invloede tot gevolg het. Die resultate van die navorsing dui dus daarop dat sport tot ‘n sekere mate gebruik kan word as 'n middel waardeur ontwikkeling kan plaasvind.

The theme of the development of the existing sports grounds was dealt with Based on a number of analyzes, visits to the site and communication with the community management, the theme of the development of the existing sports grounds was dealt with. The whole territory is up to a football field in a very maintained conditions. There are two smaller accommodation facilities, which are seasonally used mainly by schools in nature and other students, but their condition is quite unsatisfactory. The soccer field, which is the only one maintained, belongs to the existing base of soccer players - the dressing room with the clubhouse. Their condition is also somewhat aggravated. In the current spatial plan, the whole proposed area is at the interface of two areas, the first is the area of sport and individual recreation and the second is the area to be examined. Urban design is based on the location of the existing soccer field and the preservation or improvement of existing links to the surrounding area. Most of the paved areas will be overtaken. Part of the design of the development of sports activities in the village was also to find a possible solution for parking for tourists, for which there is no free space in the village. The chosen location is advantageous in that, when a parking lot will be created, it will be created near the main entrance to the village on road II. Cl. No. 420 from Hustopeče through the village. Architectonically, but also conceptually, the construction is based on the economic possibilities of the municipality, the possibilities of variability of the solution and especially of the possibilities of staging construction. The result are two buildings. One main, replacing the background of spccer players, creates the conditions for year-round training in the new gym, for going to fitness, while part of the building is a platform for the soccer field. The second building is an accommodation that replaces the existing unsatisfactory buildings. Architecturally, they are masses that are greatly affected by the modules. The building structure and the facilities of the sports hall are structurally designed from standardized modular systems, steel containers that are interconnected to create an unusual spectacle. The area of the gym is defined by a reinforced concrete skeleton. Both buildings are covered with gold anodized sheet metal, which is profiled similarly to the peripheral walls of the containers. At the same time, the object was to create year-round sports grounds that are accessible to the general public and youth.