ABSTRACT
Chapter 10 argues that the institutionalization (I) of the elite sport sector is a precondition for Olympic success. I give examples of best practice cases of administrative capacities for Olympic sports that have served as blueprints for high performance policies around the world, and I highlight the Soviet bloc countries as early pioneers for the institutionalization of Olympic sports in the 1960s and 1970s. I discuss particular best practices like centralization of elite sport support, among others, and recent trends such as the promotion of sport in specific government departments.
