Lyubysheva L.I.
Russian University of Sport "GTSOLIFK," Moscow

Abstract

Research Objective — to establish cause-and-effect relationships of objectively existing determinants that contribute to the crisis of the modern international sports movement and to identify ways to overcome it.

Research Results and Discussion. It is shown that in recent years, among the main determinants contributing to the crisis of the international sports movement, political, economic, and managerial factors stand out. To effectively implement the proposed measures, it is necessary to optimize the management mechanism of the national sports system by developing a unified approach to decision-making and implementation on important sports issues in collaboration with the international sports community, which includes legal and media services.

Today, the Russian Olympic Committee has embarked on the development of a Strategy for the Development of the International Olympic Movement, updating regulatory documents to ensure compliance with the requirements of the fundamental document for all participants in the Olympic Movement — the Olympic Charter. Within the framework of the Strategy, work is planned to lift restrictions and ensure the full participation of Russian athletes in international competitions under the national flag; integrate Russian representation into the governing bodies of international sports organizations: Councils, Executive Committees, Committees, Commissions; and restore the status of "RUSADA" and the status of the Russian Olympic Committee in the IOC.

Introduction. In recent years, among the main determinants contributing to the crisis of the international sports movement, political, economic, and managerial factors have been particularly prominent, resulting in our country facing sanctions pressure [1].

As the leading vector for solving these problems, the Russian Minister of Sports, M.V. Degtyaryov, has outlined "the return of Russia to the global sports arena".

The field of activity in the country's domestic policy includes measures such as maintaining a positive attitude towards international sports organizations and foreign athletes in the media space; optimizing the process of managing national sports by consolidating resources within the ecosystem of the Ministry of Sports, the Olympic Committee, and the regions.

In addition, new competitions, such as the BRICS Games, SCO Games, Future Games, and CIS Games, are proposed to be held with the aim of consolidation, not in opposition to traditional international competitions, but as a complement to them, without disrupting the existing global sports calendar.

At the same time, understanding the need to protect state interests, it is essential to enhance the professionalism of international sports law lawyers who can advocate for the return of Russian symbols to the Olympic, Paralympic, and Deaflympic Games and defend the rights of Russian athletes.

To effectively implement the proposed measures, it is necessary to optimize the management mechanism of the national sports system by developing a unified approach to decision-making and implementation on important sports issues in collaboration with the international sports community, which includes legal and media services.

The focus on building a sports ecosystem should obviously rely on the results of scientific research aimed at identifying cause-and-effect relationships that have led to the current crisis in sports and constructing multifactorial models for overcoming it.

Research Objective — to establish cause-and-effect relationships of objectively existing determinants that contribute to the crisis of the modern international sports movement and to identify ways to overcome it.

Research Results and Discussion. It is known that identifying and understanding the causes of ideological and conceptual conflicts allows for the development of strategies and tactics to mitigate contradictions while adhering to the ethics of social relations.

Analyzing the political situation as a determinant of the crisis in the international sports movement, we present the scientific opinion of American sociologists on several ways in which sports are used for political purposes: to support the image of a political figure; to foster feelings of national unity; and to promote political ideologies through comparison. This suggests that sports competitions serve as an "ideal platform" for the propaganda and promotion of various political programs among social groups with diverse political views. Today, the global situation is such that politicians attempt to control the Olympic movement to serve their interests and influence the political course of a country, while also exerting influence on other countries, drawing them into a game played by their rules.

The modern world is so multipolar that conflict situations between states periodically arise. The problem of political interstate confrontation has only intensified in recent years and has not found a final resolution. Nevertheless, the sports movement must continue to develop, providing equal rights to all its participants. One possible solution is the adoption of a charter that would operate independently of political views, i.e., athletes from any country would be allowed to compete regardless of the political regime in their country. This is confirmed by the appeal of the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), T. Bach, to the leaders of the world's leading powers, made in November 2022. In particular, T. Bach noted that there is an urgent need for "... all countries, including — and especially — conflicting ones, to participate in the Olympic Games. If only allied countries participate, the true symbol of peace that the Olympic Games represent will not be achieved."

The world has long been engaged in a struggle for leadership at the economic level, which provokes crises that significantly reduce the revenues of major corporations and social programs in developed countries. In these conditions, sports become a means of political and economic competition. Striving for the right to host major sports competitions and generate significant income, states often resort to unfair methods to achieve their goals. As an alternative to voting for the right to host the Olympic Games, a digital voting system using probabilistic methods of analysis and forecasting results could be proposed, eliminating external interference.

Modern sports require enormous financial investments, which many countries cannot afford. A potential solution to this situation could be the focus on developing sports as a sociocultural phenomenon. In this aspect, its economic support should be based on the principles of transparency in financial flows and investments in the construction of sports infrastructure and the training of coaching staff to attract various population groups to sports.

The problem of managing global sports is becoming increasingly relevant as the multipolarity of opinions on how it should progress expands.

It is evident that the role of a leader in sports is becoming more critical. Evolutionary changes in major sports are largely associated with individuals who, thanks to their image and achievements, have had a decisive influence on managerial decisions in international sports practice, such as Juan Antonio Samaranch, who proposed a new economic mechanism for organizing modern Olympic Games. Today, there is a need to actualize the role of a leader in sports management who is capable of making independent decisions and does not serve the interests of ruling elites. Additionally, it is necessary to ensure equal representation of countries in international sports organizations such as federations, unions, and committees (e.g., FISU, WADA, IOC).

Conclusions. Russia's Olympic future largely depends on state-level managerial decisions. Today, the Russian Olympic Committee has embarked on the development of a Strategy for the Development of the International Olympic Movement, updating regulatory documents to ensure compliance with the requirements of the fundamental document for all participants in the Olympic Movement — the Olympic Charter. Within the framework of the Strategy, work is planned to lift restrictions and ensure the full participation of Russian athletes in international competitions under the national flag; integrate Russian representation into the governing bodies of international sports organizations: Councils, Executive Committees, Committees, Commissions; and restore the status of "RUSADA" and the status of the Russian Olympic Committee in the IOC.

These strategic tasks will allow Russian representatives of the sports community to conduct multilateral negotiations and expand equal international sports cooperation. Sports diplomacy is becoming a key component of the process of Russia's return to global sports.

References.

1. Lyubysheva, L.I. (2024). Politicization of Sport as a New Social Reality. Teoriya i praktika fizicheskoy kultury, 4, 107.