ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines the concept of sports governance by proposing different key definitions. It analyzes the profound changes that sports federations have undergone over the last 30 years, moving from being semi-public organizations to semi-private structures in some cases. The chapter highlights on how local and regional authorities have gradually moved from a purely administrative approach to sport to strategic governance. Looking beyond the federations, however, it is the complexity of sports governance as a whole that requires a precise definition of its boundaries, key concepts, players and markets. The main purpose of issuing the delegation is to enable a federation to organize sporting competitions where international, national, regional or departmental titles are awarded, to select the French teams, to put forward names for the lists of top athletes, coaches, referees, judges, promising athletes and training partners.
