Research Information System
in: Contemporary Perspectives in Sport Management and Policy, Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Sinan Avcı, Editor, Gazi Kitabevi, Ankara, pp.79-89, 2025
In recent years, diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) have moved from
peripheral concerns to central priorities in the management of sport
organizations. Scholars and practitioners have increasingly recognized that
diverse and inclusive sport systems are not only a matter of social justice but
also a source of innovation, legitimacy and organizational performance
(Cunningham, 2025; Dashper et al., 2022). As sport has become a global,
mediatised and commercially significant field, the ways in which clubs,
federations and event organisers respond to questions of gender equity,
disability inclusion, racial and ethnic diversity, and anti-discrimination are
under constant public scrutiny (Næss, 2023; Salomon, 2021).
From a managerial perspective, DEI requires more than symbolic
statements or awareness campaigns. It involves deliberate efforts to transform
leadership pipelines, recruitment practices, governance structures,
communication policies and the everyday culture of sport organizations
(Cunningham, 2021; Misener, 2014). International sport bodies such as the
International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Union of European Football
Associations (UEFA) have introduced comprehensive frameworks on
equality, diversity and inclusion, which increasingly shape expectations at
national and local levels (IOC, 2018; IOC, 2024; UEFA, 2023).
This chapter examines DEI in sport management with a particular focus
on leadership, organizational practices and inclusive policies. It deliberately excludes issues related to sexual orientation and gender identity, and instead
concentrates on gender equity, disability inclusion, racial and ethnic diversity,
socio-economic diversity and anti-discrimination in sport organizations.
Drawing on contemporary research, international policy frameworks and
practical initiatives, the chapter aims to provide sport managers with a
structured understanding of DEI and a set of evidence-based strategies to
strengthen inclusion in their own contexts.