Risk management approaches in sports organisations: A scoping review

Abstract

Risk management has emerged as a critical focus area in sports organisations due to the increasing complexity of operations, governance challenges, and unexpected events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. These organisations face a wide range of risks, including financial instability, legal liabilities and operational disruptions, among others. Effective risk management, which involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating potential threats to an organisation’s objectives, is critical for ensuring their resilience and long-term sustainability. A comprehensive understanding of the current state of risk management in this context is vital for the development of strategies that address these multifaceted challenges. The objectives of this scoping review are to examine how risk management has been approached in sports organisations, categorize the different types of risks studied in the literature, and identify gaps in knowledge that could inform future research. A carefully structured fivephase methodology was applied: research questions were defined, an extensive literature search was conducted, relevant studies were identified using strict inclusion criteria, data was charted, and the results were summarized. From an initial pool of 3786 articles published between 1980 and 2023, a total of 125 studies were selected for detailed analysis. The findings reveal a broad spectrum of risks explored in the literature, with a significant emphasis on operational challenges. Studies frequently address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, risk categorisation, health and safety protocols, and the competencies needed within sports organisations to effectively manage these risks. Moreover, financial and governance risks are identified as potential gaps in the existing literature, suggesting a need for further exploration and detailed investigation. The review underscores the diversity of methodologies employed, although empirical research, particularly quantitative approaches, remains predominant. In conclusion, this review highlights the need for more multidimensional approaches to risk management that integrate various aspects such as governance, financial stability, and operational efficiency.