The influence of sports policies on the right to fair competition for women

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcelo Rocha Nasser Hissa ◽  
Miguel Nasser Hissa

Purpose Competitions in high-performance sports are based on the premise of fairness and the absence of advantages for participants. Therefore, several metrics were created to divide participants into categories and neutralize the advantages of some athletes. The division by sex is justified in the face of differences in body development between men and women due to testosterone levels. Faced with the difficulties of determining a single unequivocal criterion for determining sex, major sports entities periodically change the rules that guide the inclusion criteria to compete in the female category. The purpose of this study is to assess whether changes in gender metric rules bring female sports performance closer to male performance, reducing the equality of conditions for female competitors. Design/methodology/approach This is a retrospective study that compared female and male results from the past 5 Olympic games in the 100-metre dash, high jump and javelin throw. Findings The performance in the men's category in the 100-metre dash was superior to the women's in the Olympic Games in Sydney by 8.78% (± 0.16), in Athens by 9.88% (± 0.21), in Beijing by 10.11% (± 0.29), in London by 9.25% (± 0.59) and in Rio de Janeiro by 8.6% (± 0.23). The male high jump was higher than the female by 17.24% (± 1.18) in Sydney, 16.61% (± 1.83) in Athens, 17.01% (± 1.79) in Beijing, 15.47% (± 1.96 higher) in London and 19.67% (± 1.09) in Rio de Janeiro. In the javelin throw, the male superiority was 34.87% (± 2.35) in Sydney, 29.88% (± 4.15) in Athens, 31.87% (± 4.15) in Beijing, 29.44% (± 3.24) in London and 32.31% (± 2.69) in Rio de Janeiro. Research limitations/implications As limitations of the study, this study mentions the lack of hormonal dosage of the athletes involved, the non-evaluation of other modalities with different dynamics of execution and muscular requirements and the non-evaluation of the rules in sexual metrics during the qualifying stages for the games. Practical implications In this manuscript, the authors show that interference of the International Olympic Committee in the sex metric influences the athletic performance of women in some sports. Rules that facilitate participation of transgender athletes, or with sexual differentiation disorder and other forms of hyperandrogenism, improve female athletic performance overall. Originality/value The authors believe that this manuscript is appropriate for publication by International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare because it is an original paper that fits the goals of the publication. This manuscript creates a paradigm for future policies that rule the sex determination metrics in competitive sports.

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 160-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiago Miguel Ribeiro ◽  
Abel Correia ◽  
Rui Biscaia ◽  
Carlos Figueiredo

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effects of service quality on perceived positive and negative social impact of the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games. Design/methodology/approach A field study was conducted in Rio de Janeiro, and data were collected from residents who attended the Olympic Games through a self-administered questionnaire (n=519). The questionnaire included measures of perceived service quality, positive and negative social impact. A confirmatory factor analysis analysed the psychometric properties of the constructs, and a subsequent structural equation model examined the relationships between service quality and social impact perceptions. Findings The results show good psychometric properties of a multidimensional construct of service quality composed of the technical, functional, aesthetic, access, accommodation and complementary events dimensions. The service quality construct was significantly related to both positive social impact (city image and community pride enhancement, social experiences and public infrastructures) and negative social impact (social conflicts and costs) perceptions. Originality/value This study contributes to the literature by examining the role of service quality in sport mega-events and testing on different facets of social impact. The findings highlight that social atmosphere and new experiences in the Olympic Games are critical when planning these events.


2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
André M. Carvalho ◽  
Paulo Sampaio ◽  
Eric Rebentisch ◽  
João Álvaro Carvalho ◽  
Pedro Saraiva

PurposeThis article offers a novel approach that brings together management, engineering and organizational behavior. It focuses on the understanding of organizational dynamics in an era of technological change, upholding the importance of organizational agility and of the cultural paradigm in the management of organizations.Design/methodology/approachIn this work, the authors present the conclusions from a set of studies carried out in organizations operating in technical and technological industries. The authors assessed the capabilities of these organizations in terms of operational excellence maturity and its impact on the organizational culture and organizational agility.FindingsResults show the importance of operational excellence either in developing or expanding organizational agility capabilities while reinforcing the cruciality of an excellence-oriented culture to sustain these efforts over time.Originality/valueIncreasingly unstable business environments have led to a growing interest in how to develop and maintain operational excellence in the face of continued and disruptive change. However, this interest has, so far, been advanced with little empirical evidence to support the corresponding predictions. This work offers the first practical evidence that continued focus and optimization of operations, with the right cultural alignment, helps organizations survive and thrive in increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous environments.


2019 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 7-8

Purpose The researchers wanted to examine the mediating factors operating in the “black box” between HPWS and employee outcomes. Design/methodology/approach The authors obtained their data from a variety of customer-contact employees, such as front desk agents, food servers and concierges, in four and five-star hotels in the Romanian cities of Sibiu and Bucharest. They sent out questionnaires measuring psychological capital, such as self-reliance, hope, resilience and optimism, as well as work engagement, creative performance and extra-role performance. Supervisors were also asked their opinions. Findings The analysis of customer-contact employees and their supervisors in the Romanian hotel industry suggested that psychological capital and work engagement were the two most important factors operating in the “black box” between HPWS and employee outcomes. Originality/value There is great value for businesses in the conclusions of the research. It shows how critical it is to establish various HPWS programs that boost engagement, as well as indicating the importance of providing job security and designing recruitment processes that root out people with the right skills.


Subject Preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Significance Despite the continuing political and economic crisis, nearly a year before the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the schedule of works for the event remains on time. According to a recent report released by the local organising committee, 88% of the main competition sites have been completed, a level similar to that accomplished in London one year before the beginning of the 2012 games. Impacts The political crisis should not affect preparations for the Games, as most construction works are the responsibility of local authorities. However, high levels of water contamination are a concern that cannot be adequately addressed in time. Moreover, Rio's record on urban violence raises questions about visitor safety.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Sushmita Biswal Waraich ◽  
Ajay Chaturvedi

Learning outcomes The student will be able to understand the concept of spotting an opportunity and exploiting the same. The student will be able to comprehend the various challenges faced in the development of a business idea. The student will be able to understand the strategies that need to be adopted to cope with and grow, in a competitive business environment. Case overview/synopsis Samar Singla, the Chief Executive Officer of Jugnoo, had sensed a business opportunity in auto rickshaw aggregation. He was convinced that being among the initial players in the market of auto rickshaw aggregation, there would be very little competition. He only had to play his cards right, to become the top auto aggregator. As Singla started the business, there were challenges like inducting the auto rickshaw drivers as partners, training them, hiring the right team, putting the right strategies in place and to expand the business. Singla launched and achieved robust growth in the new business, in a short period of time. Soon, however, Jugnoo felt competition breathing down their neck – form cab aggregators who were already dominant players in the cabs aggregation segment, in the large cities. To hedge their risks, Singla added other services such as “Meal” (meal delivery) and “Fatafat” (goods delivery) – as B2C and B2B services. These services, however, had to be closed soon after because of stiff competition from the local players. Singla also adopted the inorganic growth path by acquiring “Sabkuch,” a grocery delivery logistics firm; “Yelo,” a platform that provided online access to businesses and “BookMyCab,” a taxi aggregation company. Faced with tapering growth after an initial steep rise, Singla had to confront a dilemma about the right method of ensuring growth in the face of competition. Complexity academic level Under graduate, masters in business administration and post graduation in the areas of entrepreneurship and strategy. Supplementary materials Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Subject code CSS 11: Strategy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (10) ◽  
pp. 1595-1613
Author(s):  
Hana Bor ◽  
Rebecca Shargel

PurposeThe study aims to learn how a small private university dedicated to Judaic studies successfully merged with a large public university? Our study investigates how Baltimore Hebrew University (BHU) successfully integrated into the much larger Towson University (TU), while maintaining its unique Jewish identity.Design/methodology/approachHow did leadership facilitate a successful merging of a small private university with a large public university? Our case study investigates how BHU successfully integrated into the much larger TU. Given that past research has focused primarily on the financial aspects, the purpose of the present study is to analyze how leaders successfully navigated the complex processes of integrating the two institutions through envisioning, communicating and planning effectively. This research uniquely investigates the role of leadership as the driving force in moving the merger forward and facilitating the process. The authors analyzed the circumstances that facilitated the merger and discovered that leadership pushed this merger forward, particularly the confluence of three approaches—visionary, transformational and servant leadership. This research has implications for guiding future mergers of smaller colleges with larger universities. This case study is particularly timely, during this uncertain age of COVID-19, when many universities are considering creative solutions, including potential mergers with other institutions, in the face of increasing financial difficulties.FindingsImplications of this research can help illuminate future mergers of smaller colleges with larger universities in cases where the smaller institution desires to retain its strong cultural or historical identity. The authors found that the “right leadership on the ground” is a crucial component needed for a successful merger, particularly in a higher education setting.Research limitations/implicationsOur research provides a concrete example that can be used help campus administrators assess whether they have the leadership structure in place to successfully navigate a merger as a path forward.Originality/valueThis case study is particularly timely, during this uncertain age of COVID-19, when many universities are considering creative solutions, including potential mergers with other institutions, in the face of increasing financial difficulties.


2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 668-686 ◽  
Author(s):  
Çağlar Sivri

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to introduce a novel face mask prototype having a superabsorbent nanofibrous coating with a homogenous distribution. Design/methodology/approach Superabsorbent nanofibers were manufactured via electrospinning method using Poly(vinyl alcohol)/superabsorbent polymer (PVA/SAP) aqueous polymer solutions and they were simultaneously coated onto face masks in order to develop their virus protection and comfort properties. Absorbency, air permeability, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) and SEM investigations were carried out for characterization. Findings SEM investigations revealed that face masks were homogenously coated with nanofibers. Picks obtained from FT-IR spectra proved that all mask samples have PVA/SAP content indicating their absorbent feature. Liquid absorption capacity and air permeability tests have shown that nanofiber coating increased the hydrophilicity of face masks while air permeability decreased in reverse. Final prototype has been found to be promising for industrial, scientific and medical applications with its improved protection and comfort characteristics. Research limitations/implications The implication of the research is to investigate the morphological, physical and transfer difference of face masks that are coated with nanofibers and uncoated face masks. This is useful in selection of the right face mask with optimum surface, absorbency and transfer properties. Originality/value Compared to commercial product in the market, the face mask developed within the study has a more regularly distributed nanofiber coating.


2005 ◽  
Vol 102 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyun-Seung Kang ◽  
Moon Hee Han ◽  
Bae Ju Kwon ◽  
Byung-Woo Yoon ◽  
Kee-Hyun Chang

✓ The concept of a cerebrofacial arteriovenous metameric syndrome (CAMS) recently has been posited. A 22-year-old woman presented with gait ataxia. She had unilateral angiomatous lesions involving the lower face, the auricle, and the retromastoid area, as well as the tongue on the right side. Angiography revealed the presence of extensive arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the ipsilateral cerebellum and pons, in addition to those located in the facial region. The authors report a case of multiple AVMs of the face, cerebellum, and pons, corresponding to CAMS Type 3, and include a review of the literature.


2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Victor Jun Zeng

Subject area Business strategy. Study level/applicability This case study is appropriate for MBA and EMBA courses, especially for courses oriented to emerging markets such as China. It can be used in Business Strategic Management or similar courses, combined with the methodology lectures of Managing Entry Modes and Competitive Strategy. This case study provides material for understanding/studying the development of a large Chinese software enterprise. Case overview As a result of Chinese ITO and BPO market in the face of re-structuring in 2012, Huawei invested in ChinaSoft in May and Vance info merged with HiSoft in August, both of which make ChinaSoft the third largest market-share owner. However, ChinaSoft has a dilemma in its strategic planning for the next three years. If it cannot break through the suppression from the first and the second placed companies, it may lag behind very soon. If it strives for the No. 2 position in market share, is organic growth or M&A strategy the right approach to adopt? Thus, ChinaSoft is now in need of strategic reform and restructuring. The case study analyzes the approaches that Chinese enterprises can adopt in order to sustain overall cost leadership strategies and avoid the related risks in the ITO and BPO industry. Expected learning outcomes This case study intends to encourage students to learn and use methodologies such as Porter's competitive strategy framework; Rugman and Collinson's theory, selecting and managing entry modes; four basic global strategies, by Hill and Jones. Supplementary materials Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email [email protected] to request teaching notes.


Subject The outlook for the Rio Olympic Games. Significance Within less than 100 days, the Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro will start. While all competition sites are almost ready, transit infrastructure may still be incomplete by the August 5 opening date. Political turmoil and fears of public health problems caused by water contamination in competition sites and the Zika virus cast doubts on whether the event will run without major problems. Impacts The metro line that connects the Olympic Park to the rest of the city is not completed yet; authorities say it will be open in July. The collapse of a cycle overpass left two dead and renewed doubts over the safety of other Games-related construction. Together with political and health problems, it also deepened concerns over Rio's ability to host the Olympics successfully.


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