Welcome to SPLISS

WHAT IS SPLISS?

SPLISS is an international network of research cooperation that coordinates, develops and shares expertise in innovative high performance sport policy research in cooperation with policy makers, National Olympic Committees (NOCs), international (sport) organisations, and researchers worldwide.

Optimising elite sport policies

SPLISS (Sports Policy factors Leading to International Sporting Success) deals with the strategic policy planning process that underpins the development of successful national elite sport systems. It answers the question: how can nations be more successful in elite sport?  Drawing on various international benchmarks, it examines how nations can optimize and develop elite sport policies in order to increase the medal winning opportunities (e.g. at Olympics or other events).

In addition SPLISS projects also focus on the impact of elite sport to understand “why nations invest in elite sport? Using the MESSI-scale (Measuring elite sport Societal Impact of Elite sport) it identifies the positive and negative outcomes of elite sport.

Why SPLISS?

More than 15 years ago, an international group of researchers joined forces to develop theories and methods on the Sports Policy factors Leading to International Sporting Success (SPLISS). Two large-scale international SPLISS-projects were conducted that identified, compared and contrasted elite sport policies and strategies in place for the Olympic Games and other events in 15 distinct nations. With input from over 50 researchers and over 30 policy makers worldwide and the views of over 3000 elite athletes, 1300 high performance coaches and 240 performance directors, this work is the largest benchmarking study of national elite sport policies ever conducted.