ABSTRACT
Over the last 25 years there has been some serious discussion about the state of Australian sport and the strengths and weaknesses of Commonwealth Government sport policy (Armstrong, 1987; Baka, 1984; Semotiuk, 1987; Toohey, 1990). However, for the most part, there has been little analysis of the ways in which the policies were framed, and the processes that produced the on-the-ground strategies and programmes. In this chapter this sport policy gap will be filled by exploring the background to the sport policy-making process. First, the concept of sport and identity will be re-visited, with attention to the different ways sport can be defined, and how these different definitions impact on scale and scope of sport policy making. Second, a conceptual framework will be designed, within which the nature and scope of sport and sport policy can be discussed. Third, the policy-making process will be examined, and subsequently used to locate the development and practice of sport. Finally, the rationale for government involvement in sport will be explored, which will include an analysis of how sport policy can be used to enhance the welfare of society in general and specific communities in particular.
