ABSTRACT
One of the key concepts in relation to an understanding of the role of international organisations in sports policy is that of subsidiarity. It is a principle that is overtly adopted to legitimate policy intervention at the European level by the European Union (EU), but it is also applicable to the relationship between local, regional, national, and international/transnational bodies in both the public and third sectors. The principle of vertical subsidiarity requires that any policy that can be effectively pursued at a lower level (local, regional or national) should be dealt with at that lower level. Thus the delivery of policy at international level should be limited to those policy domains where effective intervention is only possible through international or transnational agreement and/or enforcement. Thus for example agreements on limits to fuel emissions and pollution are only effective if these have a trans-border dimension, since the impact of domestic pollution is not limited by national boundaries. Sport, however, might be said, particularly in its recreational form, to be a matter for local decision-making, and the provision of opportunities to participate are often the concern of local agencies, in particular local government. Competitive sport, particularly at the elite level, with national competitions and teams representing the nation, would appear to be more likely to be a matter of national policy (though not always a public sector or governmental concern). Relatively few aspects of policy, apart from issues such as regulation of the transnational flow and employment of players, would seem likely to be a concern of transnational policy bodies, whether governmental (e.g. the EU) or sporting (e.g. FIFA).
