Abstract des Autors

Elite sport in Russia is a part of a comprehensive state system of physical culture rooted in long traditions for the harmonious development of the person. It is governed by laws and regulations and is subject to a good degree of bureaucratic control. The elite sport system serves a number of social, political, ideological and economic functions. The governance of Russian elite sport system has been increasingly diversified to include a growing number of non-state actors and sources of funding. As a result, traditional leadership approaches have been challenged and elite sport leaders have found themselves in unchartered territories where they have to balance the interests of state and non-profit and commercial actors. Leadership of elite sport has exhibited some marked differences between Olympic and non-Olympic sports such as karate. The political environment and the recent drive to commercialisation have been the most influencing factors shaping the leadership of elite sport.