ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the development of sport into a major sector of
economic and social activity and outlines the importance of sport manage-
ment as a field of study. It discusses the unique nature of sport and the drivers
of change that affect how sport is produced and consumed. A three-sector
model of public, non-profit and professional sport is presented, along with
a brief description of the salient aspects of the management context for sport
organizations. The chapter serves as an introduction to the remaining
sections of the book, highlighting the importance of each of the topics.
