Modelling public trust in elite sport institutions: a theoretical synthesis and empirical test

Abstract

Research question: Trust in elite sport institutions is an important antecedent that explains public attitudes towards elite sport. However, the origin of trust remains, to some extent, enigmatic. The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that define trust in elite sport institutions. Research methods: Drawing on data collected from a cross-sectional online social survey among 2525 representative Japanese adults, this article examines the impact of a series of (1) institutional approach; (2) cultural approach; and (3) social exchange theory-derived factors on the level of trust in elite sport institutions. Results and Findings: The findings highlight the role that institutional performances, most notably the sporting and political aspects, exogenous cultural elements, and positive/negative perception towards policy development, play in determining institutional trust. Among these determinants, the contribution of institutions’ political performance (e.g. information provision and fiscal responsibility) is the most prominent. Implications: In addition to the pursuit of medal winning performances and elite sport success, enhancing political performance, such as transparency and fiscal responsibility, needs to be considered an equally, and probably more, important part of elite sport policy in relation to public trust.