Sports sector organisations support RSU initiative and commit to implementing good governance principles

On 29 June, a memorandum of cooperation on the implementation and promotion of the principles of good governance in Latvia’s sports sector was signed at Rīga Stradiņš University (RSU). The memorandum brings together representatives from the government, local municipalities, sports organisations, the private sector, and academia towards a shared goal to strengthen transparent, accountable, and sustainable sports governance in Latvia.

The signing of the memorandum marks a significant outcome within the RSU research and development grant project Building the Legal Framework of European Sport: Intersection of Sports Governance and Lex Sportiva. As part of the project, the guidelines on Good Governance in Sports: Recommendations for Sports Organisations (in Latvian) were developed to serve as a practical tool for sports organisations in implementing good governance principles in their daily operations.

The principles of good governance in sports include transparent decision-making, clear accountability, the prevention of conflicts of interest, stakeholder representation, and evidence-based governance. These principles build trust in sports organisations, promote efficient use of resources and the sustainable development of the sports sector.

The memorandum aims to promote the implementation of the guidelines at different levels of the sports sector, organise seminars and educational events, facilitate the exchange of good practices, develop self-assessment and monitoring mechanisms for sports organisations, and strengthen cooperation among the national, local, non-governmental, and private sectors.

The guidelines are based on the principles of good governance in sports established by the European Union and the Council of Europe, the Latvian Sports Law, the Sports Policy Guidelines for 2022–2027, as well as on a study conducted by RSU on governance practices in Latvian sports organisations.

The study’s results show that sports organisations recognise the importance of good governance, but in practice, challenges remain regarding independent monitoring, stakeholder engagement, transparency, monitoring the implementation of strategies, as well as a lack of resources and institutional capacity. The developed guidelines provide practical solutions for overcoming these challenges.

The event featured a presentation on the guidelines, an expert discussion on opportunities for implementing good governance in Latvian sports organisations, and a ceremonial signing of the memorandum.

The memorandum marks a shared commitment to build more accountable, transparent, and sustainable sports governance in Latvia, while affirming the RSU role in developing and implementing evidence-based solutions for the advancement of the sports sector.

At the RSU Faculty of Social Sciences, the Sports Law, Policy and Governance Research Group conducts interdisciplinary research in the fields of sports law, sports governance and sports policy, providing evidence-driven solutions for sports organisations and policymakers in Latvia and internationally. As a result of the group’s project, good governance guidelines for sports organisations have been developed, along with the memorandum on their implementation.