The future of sports in ukraine without reforms

Abstract

Introduction. Recent years have been notable for attempts to substantiate the need for urgent sports reform in Ukraine. A technology for sports reform has been developed, which consists of the appropriate stages of its preparation and implementation. Meanwhile, the scientific developments carried out have not found their embodiment, which may indicate the confidence of sports leaders in the absence of the need for reforms, the state of well-being in the existing practice of sports training. We consider this position erroneous, which should be proven in a separate study. After all, the history of Olympic sports knows many examples of countries that have lost their positions due to systemic failures in the management of this sphere and the absence of reforms. The purpose of the study is to draw attention to the implementation of sports reform in Ukraine, without which there is an inevitable loss of still existing successes in the international arena due to the further destruction of the existing system. Material and methods of the study. The study was conducted at the Scientific Research Institute “Prydniprovsk State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports” of the Ukrainian State University of Science and Technology. Based on the complexity of the object, a battery of research methods was used, which, in addition to the study of literary sources, material from the Internet and their analysis, included the following: comparative-historical method, extrapolation of existing trends, logical analysis of cause-and-effect relationships, synthesis of best practices in sports and a systemic approach. Results. It is shown on factual material that Ukrainian athletes demonstrate significantly lower results as an independent state compared to their contribution to the Soviet national team, which reflects the systemic crisis of Ukrainian sports after the collapse of the USSR. Conclusions. Over the past decades, negative examples have been acquired from a number of countries (including former socialist ones - Cuba, Romania, Bulgaria) in which the medal tally at the most prestigious international competitions, such as the Summer and Winter Olympic Games, has formally decreased. Instead, there are examples of countries that have carried out successful reforms in sports and achieved notable success. These are the former socialist countries of Estonia, Slovenia, Georgia, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Uzbekistan. Ukraine is now at a crossroads. We have the potential, traditions and talented athletes necessary for the development of sports. But without systemic reforms in 10-15 years we may well repeat the path of Cuba or Romania - from Olympic power to marginal positions (such a tendency exists). The history of other countries should become a warning, not a prophecy for Ukraine. Without the implementation of overdue reforms, Ukrainian sports are threatened with systemic stagnation with growing problems at all its levels.