Power and Truths in Combat Sports: The impact of societal and policy changes on governing practices in sport

Abstract

Sports take place in dynamic social political contexts and consequently the practices or routines of the governing of sports will need to be adapted to new and emerging public climates. For example recently sport organizations are challenged by governments and politicians on social political issues like integrity and safety or their contribution to participation and antidiscrimination in and through sport (Nagel, Schlesinger, Baylec, & Giauqued, 2015). As organizations respond to these developments, other stakeholders become involved in the governing of sports. For example when national governments, who intend to implement their policy goals to improve health, reduce crime or boost national prestige through sport, become partners in the governing of sport (Green & Houlihan, 2006). Routines in the governing of Full Contact Martial Arts and Combat Sports were challenged in the Netherlands when new groups of participants joined the various gyms, critical questions were asked by the public and politicians and when national and local governments began to implement their policy goals through Full Contact Martial Arts and Combat Sports. Critical issues emerged when the self-regulation of sport failed to ensure safety in and integrity of these sports at the national level. These issues meant more and various stakeholders became involved in (the governing of) these sports which increased the complexity of the governing of sports. This meant the enactment of various truths about Full Contact Martial Arts and Combat Sports became entangled in often confusing discussions about the real ‘truth’ and the appropriate way of governing these sports. Power and truths in Combat Sports investigates how Full Contact Martial Arts and Combat Sports organisations deal with social-political changes that affect the governing of these sports. The governing of diversity and the normalization of female boxers in a male dominated sport is explored at the local level. At the national level the focus is on the failure of various Full Contact Martial Arts and Combat Sports organizations in the Netherlands to engage in self-regulation and its consequences. The analyses of various truths and routinized practices of governing revealed the steps that were needed to come to a collaborative regulation of these sports. The regulations will acts as a safeguard to enable the practices of Full Contact Martial Arts and Combat Sports that are both safe and legal.