The Formation of Brazilian Female Gymnasts Taking Part in the Olympic Games
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Oliveira M.S., Bortoleto M.A.C. PUBLIC SPORTS POLICY: THE IMPACT OF THE ATHLETE … Vol. 4 Issue 1: 5 - 19 PUBLIC SPORTS POLICY: THE IMPACT OF THE ATHLETE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM ON BRAZILIAN MEN’S ARTISTIC GYMNASTICS Mauricio Santos Oliveira1 & Marco Antonio Coelho Bortoleto2 1Physical Education and Sports School, University of São Paulo, Brazil 2Physical Education Faculty, State University of Campinas, Brazil Original research article Abstract The Brazilian government established the Athlete Scholarship Program, by Law no10.891/2004, aiming to contribute for athletes’ economical support, development and permanence in sports and to renew the Brazilian representation in national and international competitive events. This study intends to present the program and to discuss its impact on Brazilian Men’s Artistic Gymnastics (MAG) according to the opinion of Brazilian experts. A bibliographic review has been used as methodological procedure, followed by a field survey consisting of semi-structured interviews applied to Brazilian representatives, coaches, judges and world-class gymnasts. The results revealed the important role of the Athlete Scholarship Program on the gymnasts support, however other actions are necessary to solve structural and financial problems that still affect this sport in Brazil. We suggest some changes in the program in order to increase the number of scholarships offered, to minimize the bureaucracy application and to make clearer the enrollment rules, the accountability and the selection process. Keywords: sports public funding, sports policy, sports legislation. INTRODUCTION public funding) to sport related aspects, linked to a variety of national and The sport phenomenon became a very international political goals (Houlihan, important issue for government policies, 1997). According to Houlihan and White mainly because of the utilitarian character (2002), it was in this period that many that it plays as part of both social and governments started projects and public educational policies. This fact can be policies to the development and observed in many countries that have consolidation of sport, particularly for the several laws and programs designated to competitive sport, as part of an overarching raise and support the sport community, as policy for the social, educational and reported by Hoye, Nicholson and Houlihan cultural areas. (2010) and also Ferrando, Otero and Barata In Brazil, it was in the 80’s as reported (2009). by Tubino (1993), that the State definitely We can observe, especially since the included sport in the National Constitution, 70’s, an international tendency in increasing precisely in the Carta Magna of 1988 governmental support (by the use of the (Federative Republic of Brazil, 1988). From Science of Gymnastics Journal 5 Science of Gymnastics Journal Oliveira M.S., Bortoleto M.A.C. PUBLIC SPORTS POLICY: THE IMPACT OF THE ATHLETE … Vol. 4 Issue 1: 5 - 19 this moment on, the government’s role inclusion (Ministry of Sport, 2010a). In this concerning the sports phenomenon was way, Boudens (2007) points out that the redefined, consolidating sport funding as a Ministry of Sports might guarantee free government official commitment (in every access to sports practice helping to improve level, from national do regional), aiming to the citizen's life quality and also human promote and maintain sports from the development in general. educational bases to the highest level of According to Bergsgard et al. (2007), competition. national governments started to consider Since then, the support of the sport as a very important factor for Brazilian government has significantly economical and social activities, increased proportionally to the role that considering also its contribution to a variety sports acquired in its society. This can also of areas (as educational, health, leisure, be seen in other countries like Spain, as etc.), becoming sometimes a panacea for highlighted by Ferrando, Otero and Barata public policies. Coalter (2007) associates (2009)1. Therefore, “more often the State these decisions to the fact that sport can be uses the public resources to invest in sports, important for the social and economic providing its development” (Tubino, 1987, regeneration, crime and drugs fighting, p. 65). educational and health improvements. As Between 2000 and 2010, “there has we may observe, there is a growing been an increasing preoccupation of the fascination among the national governments Brazilian government in order to amplify its about the social and economic roles that participation in the three different scope of sports play on communities through the the sport: the high level, the scholar and the non-sportive results (Hoye, Nicholson, & sport for all” says Ferreira (2007, p. 2). Houlihan, 2010). In the words of Parish The development of a specific (2008, p. 80), Ministry for sports in 2003 has signalized, Sport therefore has a public function in an even clearer way this time, that there and the expansion of its social and was a Brazilian governmental provision for economic significance and its growing the sport phenomenon. According to organizational sophistication and Boudens (2007), the Ministry of Sports internationalization has attracted increased became a specific department focusing on interest from public policy makers. Sport is the development of the national policies for used as a tool of nation building sports and leisure. In fact, as mentioned by (particularly when sporting individuals and Houlihan (2005), before the 90’s just a few teams assume a representative function at countries had a specific budget for sports European and World Championships), as a administration. Even though a bit late, provision of a public good, as a tool for Brazil has followed the tendency of the health promotion, as a means of combating majority of economical developed countries. social exclusion, as a tool for crime According to the Brazilian prevention, as a vehicle for economic governmental strategies, the Ministry of development and as a tool of foreign policy. Sports intends, among other attributions, to Ferreira (2007) affirms that the promote issues related to sports activities as Brazilian sport policies are now in a its principle. It is believed that the development phase, and they have three investment in sports can promote health and main characteristics for their execution and benefits for both education and social regulation. One of them consists in the existence and implementation of laws that 1 recognize sport as a public interest activity Bortoleto (2004) developed a detailed analysis of the Spanish MAG National Team, highlighting the and a population right. This strong position importance played by the existence of scholarships became evident when the Brazilian and other financial help supported by governmental Constitution declared sport as a fundamental programs, as ADO Scholarship conceded by the activity for the society (Tubino, 1987). Superior Council of Sports (Spain). Science of Gymnastics Journal 6 Science of Gymnastics Journal Oliveira M.S., Bortoleto M.A.C. PUBLIC SPORTS POLICY: THE IMPACT OF THE ATHLETE … Vol. 4 Issue 1: 5 - 19 Another feature mentioned by Ferreira opinion of experts involved in this sport at (2007) is about sport-funding, regulated the high level. through legal incentives, patronages and Although the sport has been acquiring taxes. We would include the benefits a greater role in Brazil, and therefore an offered to the athletes in order to guarantee increase in revenue in this sector may be means for their improvement. At last we noted, Veronez (2007) reports that maybe may quote the political control to promote there is no study field so poorly explored as cooperation among many sports institutions, the sport funding area. So, there is the need in a national, state or county level that also for researchers to follow and analyze the controls the creation and maintenance of the policies and programs established by the sport’s infrastructure available in the Brazilian government to sports country. development, trying to constantly assess if The Athlete Scholarship Program may these resources are being used correctly and be inserted in those sport policies features achieving the expected results. above said, since this consists in a group of principles, guidelines and strategic actions METHODS developed by the Ministry of Sports through legislation, looking for the promotion and At first we developed a bibliographic development of the competitive sport research alongside a documental one culture. searching for primary information sources The program's project has been which were not treated analytically yet (Gil, prepared by former Sports Minister Agnelo 1999). Queiroz and its legislation has been The field survey consisted of semi- instituted by the Federal Government Law structured interviews that, according to no 10.891/2004, sanctioned by the ex- Triviños (1987), valorizes the researcher's president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva presence and offers perspectives to the (Federative Republic of Brazil, 2004). subjects to achieve the freedom and the Through the Athlete Scholarship spontaneity needed when the interviewed Program, the Ministry of Sports intends to people expose their ideas, which helps to provide better conditions to the career improve the investigation procedures. development of Brazilian athletes by About the population for this study, it offering financial resources in order to help was composed by nine (09) individuals: two them dedicate