High Performance Sport

High-performance (HP) sport is defined as sport engaged by elite athletes who have achieved or aspire to achieve excellence on the international sporting stage. HP sport encompasses all activities associated with developing elite athletes and achieving success at significant international sport events. The professionalisation of HP sport, and the political and socioeconomic power of HP sport, has led to strong performing nations at international sport events. As a result, national elite sport policies are a key focus on the political agenda. To be competitive on the international sporting stage, nations require significant funding and resources, as well as a strategic approach in the development of their HP sport system. An HP sports system unifies a dedicated support team of coaches, sport scientists, and administrators, operating in a dedicated training facility. HP sport can be examined at two levels: macro and micro (Sotiriadou & De Bosscher, 2013). The macro-level reflects political, social, and cultural factors that influence an HP sports system, including athlete pathways, policies, and financial support. The micro-level is concerned with the daily training environment and the qualities of individual athletes. While HP sport is influenced by the social, cultural, and economic conditions in which it operates, the elements that contribute to HP sporting success are comparable and widely mimicked across the various nations. Globally, most nations strive to achieve international sporting success and therefore, the HP sport system is the foundation for identifying and developing gold medal athletes.