The funding models and performance of National Sports Federations affiliated to the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee

Abstract

The 1995 Rugby World Cup and more recently the 2010 FIFA Football World Cup proved that sport can unite a previously divided nation. In order to participate in these major tournaments and events on an international level, national sports teams have to be competitive. The funding models used by national sports federations play a vital role in ensuring that national sports teams are competitive. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between the funding models used by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee and the National Sports Federations; and the performance at international competitions and events. The main research methodology adopted for this study was exploratory in nature. The research design utilised was a mixed-method approach with a longitudinal design and entailed the collection and analysis of data for the period 2001 to 2014. The results from the quantitative research did not reveal any clear relationship between the variables under consideration and the performance of the national sports federations. Additional information was gathered through semi-structured interviews, which proved to be invaluable in explaining why the quantitative research did not reveal any clear relationship, between the variables under consideration and the performance of the national sports federations.