There is now a wide range of participants involved in governing sport:

players, clubs, local, national and international bodies
spectators
sponsors and other commercial interests
the media
governments
organising and rule setting bodies
educational and training bodies

These groups have different priorities and relationships, within and outside of the sport

Sports now have multiple interests and roles

They have complex legal arrangements, contracts, regulatory frameworks and self-regulatory practices.

There is a conflict between many of these complex relationships, the need to attract investment, the desire to preserve the traditions of their sport.

Most Governing Bodies share concern over the fundamental conflict between promotion and the exploitation of their sport.

There is a need to balance all the competing elements in these complex relationships

This can only be achieved with the confidence of all stakeholders in the institutional structures, governance, regulations and dispute management arrangements

Most sports have been slow to adopt the disciplines of appropriate Corporate Governance which are crucial to the success of the sport both commercially and in terms of sustaining the support of non-commercial stakeholders