Comparative Analysis of Sport Systems: Examining Structure, Strategies, and Public Funding in Relation to Elite Sports Outcomes in Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia

This study examines how post-communist reforms have shaped the structure, strategy, and funding of elite sport systems in Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Slovakia, and how these transformations have influenced international sport performance. Despite extensive research on sport governance and funding in Western countries, there is a lack of comparative analysis focusing on nations transitioning from centralized, state-controlled systems to market-oriented models. Drawing on institutional theory, this study explores how historical legacies and policy adaptations have affected national approaches to elite sport development. The research employs a comparative case study methodology, combining document analysis, policy reviews, and secondary data on public sport financing and performance outcomes from 2012 to 2023. Key indicators include public sport expenditures, governance reforms, and combined medal results from the Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships. Through cross-country comparison, the study identifies patterns of institutional continuity and change in each nation. Findings indicate that while all four countries implemented governance reforms and introduced diverse funding mechanisms, the degree of institutional inertia varied significantly. Hungary and Poland maintained more consistent investment in elite sport, reflected in relatively stronger international sport performances. In contrast, Romania and Slovakia exhibited fragmented strategies and declining medal counts. The study concludes that institutional adaptability rather than funding alone is a key determinant of elite sport outcomes in post-communist contexts. These insights offer valuable implications for policymakers aiming to improve performance in resource-constrained environments and contribute to a deeper understanding of sport system evolution in transitioning economies.