International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences

search-icon

The Impact of Cultural Values on Sporting Excellence: A Study of Nations Worldwide

Open access
This article examines the impact of Hofstede's cultural indicators on national performance in elite sports, using a sample of 112 countries from all continents with valid data. The methodology includes cross-sectional OLS regressions with White's correction for heteroscedasticity and hierarchical clustering through Ward linkage. The study controls for GDP per capita and income inequality (GINI index), finding that only GDP per capita is statistically significant. Key cultural indicators that significantly influence sports performance include Individualism, Motivation towards Achievement and Success, and Long Term Orientation. The hierarchical clustering analysis identifies four behavioral patterns of countries based on sports performance, economic development, and relevant cultural indicators. These findings suggest that while economic factors play an important role, cultural dimensions also significantly shape a nation's success in international sports. The article contributes to the understanding of how cultural values influence sports outcomes, providing insights that can inform policies and strategies to enhance national sports performance. This research highlights the importance of considering both economic and cultural factors when analyzing the determinants of sports success across different nations. This study is important because it shows how cultural values, alongside economic factors, significantly impact national sports performance, providing valuable insights for improving sports policies and strategies.
Acquah-Sam, E. (2021). Developing sports for economic growth and development in developing countries. European Scientific Journal, 17(15), 172-216.
Barker-Ruchti, N., Schubring, A., Aarresola, O., Kerr, R., Grahn, K., & McMahon, J. (2018). Producing success: A critical analysis of athlete development governance in six countries. International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 10(2), 215-234.
Bourg, J. F., & Gouguet, J. J. (2010). The political economy of professional sport. Edward Elgar Publishing.
Cetin, C., & Tribou, G. (2017). Has the Amount of Available Financial Resources Become the Predominant Factor in Sporting Clubs’ Successes and That of a Country’s National Team? The Case of Turkish Basketball Clubs. Sports Management as an Emerging Economic Activity: Trends and Best Practices, 19-38.
De Bosscher, V., De Knop, P., Van Bottenburg, M., Shibli, S., & Bingham, J. (2009). Explaining international sporting success: An international comparison of elite sport systems and policies in six countries. Sport management review, 12(3), 113-136.
Dimitropoulos, P. E., Vrondou, O., & Avgerinou, V. (2018). Financial analysis of municipal sport, tourism and cultural organizations. In Innovative Approaches to Tourism and Leisure: Fourth International Conference IACuDiT, Athens 2017 (pp. 363-376). Springer International Publishing.
Ennis, S., & Ennis, S. (2020). Sport and Its Role and Contribution to Society and Economic Development. Sports Marketing: A Global Approach to Theory and Practice, 9-38.
Green, M., & Oakley, B. (2001). Elite sport development systems and playing to win: uniformity and diversity in international approaches. Leisure studies, 20(4), 247-267.
Hofstede Institute (2024). Country Comparison Tool, Hofstede Insights. https://www.hofstede-insights.com/country-comparison-tool
Houlihan, B., & Green, M. (2007). Comparative elite sport development. In Comparative elite sport development (pp. 1-25). Routledge.
Litvishko, O. V., Vysotskaya, T. P., Bodrov, I. M., Nosov, S. M., & Buyanova, T. V. (2019). Ways to improve efficiency of professional sports financing mechanisms. Theory and Practice of Physical Culture, (9), 34-34.
Madella, A., Bayle, E., & Tome, J. (2005). The organisational performance of national swimming federations in Mediterranean countries: A comparative approach. European Journal of Sport Science, 5(4), 207-220.
Milon, A. G. (2014). Study Regarding The Complexity Of Physical Training In Badminton. GYMNASIUM, 15(1).
Milon, A. G., & Milon, B. T. (2019). Study About the Importance of Speed in Children Selection in Badminton. Gymnasium, 20(1 Supplement), 94-104.
Milon, A. G., & ?licaru, A. C. (2017). Study Regarding the Importance of Exercise in Primary School Children. Sport & Society/Sport si Societate, 17(1).
Pu?, S. I. (2023). Sources and Resources for Funding Sport in Europe. In European Financial Resilience and Regulation. Proceedings of the International Conference EUFIRE 2023 (pp. 252-264).
Seguí-Urbaneja, J., Cabello-Manrique, D., Guevara-Pérez, J. C., & Puga-González, E. (2022). Understanding the predictors of economic politics on elite sport: A case study from Spain. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 12401.
Siebold, M., & Klingmuller, A. (2004). Sports facility financing and development trends in Europe and Germany 2003. Marq. Sports L. Rev., 15, 75.
Sotiriadou, P., Gowthorp, L., & De Bosscher, V. (2014). Elite sport culture and policy interrelationships: The case of Sprint Canoe in Australia. Leisure Studies, 33(6), 598-617.
Stewart, B. (2017). Sport funding and finance. Routledge.
Tóth, N. Á., & Mátrai, G. (2023). The system of Hungarian sport financing, with special regard to public finance aspects. Public Finance Quarterly, 69(2), 81-98.
Winand, M., Vos, S., Claessens, M., Thibaut, E., & Scheerder, J. (2014). A unified model of non-profit sport organizations performance: perspectives from the literature. Managing leisure, 19(2), 121-150.
Wicker, P., Hallmann, K., Breuer, C., & Feiler, S. (2012). The value of Olympic success and the intangible effects of sport events–a contingent valuation approach in Germany. European sport management quarterly, 12(4), 337-355.
World Bank (2024). Indicators: Economy & Growth. World Bank. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator
WRCEC (2024). The World Ranking of Countries in Elite Sport. https://sportsrankings.world/
Zozulya, S. N., & Kuz'micheva, E. V. (2015). Problems of resources provision of development of physical culture and sport. Theory and Practice of Physical Culture, (8), 11-19.
Sava, M.-A., Joldes, N., & Olar, S. (2024). The Impact of Cultural Values on Sporting Excellence: A Study of Nations Worldwide. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(9), 770–784.