aluing health-promoting physical activity in sport and health policies
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.23990/sa.143782Keywords:
sport policy, physical activity, public value, narrative studyAbstract
Physical activity, once considered a private matter, has become a societal concern in Western countries. This concern is linked to the population’s low levels of physical activity. Previous research demonstrates that the health benefits derived from physical activity offer a societal rationale to promote exercise. These health benefits can also be conceptualized as a public value in sports policy, as the promotion efforts target positive societal development. Sports policy is implemented through cross-sectoral and networked cooperation, where public value reconciles the goals of different actors.
This research examines the strategic goals and values of health policy in relation to sports policy. The research is a narrative document analysis of the macro-level administrative discourse on sports policy and the changes in valuing physical activity in the context of health promotion. The study identifies health policy content strategies for promoting values associated with physical activity. These include health-promoting physical activity, the use of economic discourse and associated concern discourse, and the invocation of legislation to legitimize actions. Additionally, the study recognizes changes in the underlying assessment of public value over three decades. The assessment of physical activity in administrative discourse has shifted from individual motivation to pursue movement and well-being to introduce perspectives on healthcare sustainability and public finance associated with the population’s low levels of physical activity.
