Policy factors affecting international sporting success in Turkey from the perspective of the SPLISS model

In recent years, research on elite sport policies has mainly focused on systems in Europe, North America and Australia. This study represents the first qualitative analysis of Turkey within the framework of the SPLISS model, aiming to fill the regional gap in the literature and offer original contributions regarding the model’s cultural and structural adaptability. In this context, the study aims to analyse the policy factors affecting international sporting success in Turkey. A total of 15 individuals–five athletes, five coaches and five sports managers–aged between 21 and 51 and actively involved in sport, participated in the study. A semi-structured interview technique was used, with questions prepared from the SPLISS model perspective, and the data were analysed using content analysis. The findings reveal that financial support for sport in Turkey is inadequate, there is no merit-based system in sports governance, the limited hours and content of physical education classes in schools reduce participation in sport, career support for athletes is insufficient, talent identification projects are dysfunctional, coach education has significant shortcomings and there is a lack of collaboration between sport science researchers and practitioners. The study indicates that Turkey’s sports policies require comprehensive restructuring through reforms in several areas, including equitable financial support, merit-based governance, enhanced collaboration and coordination among sport institutions, long-term strategic planning, strengthening school-based sport, sustainable career support for athletes and fostering stronger cooperation between researchers and practitioners in sport sciences.