The role of sport within social, legal, and welfare systems

Abstract

This chapter examines the transformation of sport from a relatively autonomous field of competition and entertainment into a multidimensional social, legal, and welfare domain. It analyzes how professionalization, commercialization, globalization, and media integration have increased the importance of labor rights, social security, and athlete welfare. The chapter particularly focuses on athletes' uncertain legal status, social risks, and working conditions within different welfare regimes, including Germany, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and China. Finally, it argues that athletes should be recognized as non-standard workers and that sport governance should adopt a welfare-oriented and rights-based approach grounded in social justice and sustainable social protection.