The purpose is to provide a first examination of how culture and power relations influence changes to international sport policy. This purpose leads to two aims: (1) to advance knowledge on the role of power relations in developing international sport policy, and (2) to contribute to the growing understanding and action on duty of care for young people and vulnerable adults in sport. Carrying out this research will provide an original research exploration of power relations by engaging the rigour of a longitudinal design and a sound conceptual foundation to facilitate the delivery of world-leading research. 

Alvesson (2017) explains that researchers should probe underneath the surface to examine features that are not readily observable. According to Helin, Hernes, Hjort, and Holt (2014), such features include covert power processes and ‘backstage politics.’ Recent research from elite sports in the United Kingdom (Feddersen et al., 2020) suggested that power relations regulated organisational culture change. The resurgence of interest in organisational culture demonstrates the importance of understanding power dynamics within these cultures in sport (Alvesson, 2017). Power could be a key feature for understanding the profound ‘behind-the-science’ dynamics and what provides change or conflict (Alvesson, 2017; Clegg et al., 2006). Earlier research suggests that power could come in the form of ‘silent hierarchies’ and ‘invisible walls’ (A. D. Brown et al., 2010), as an attribute that individuals can wield to control others (Scraton, 2016), or an interdependent capacity working as a capillary network (Foucault, 1979). Addressing the aim of this research and current limitations, I propose that organisational culture is a favourable avenue for researching cultural processes through power relations. The substantial advancement of research is that this project could shed light on the development of international sport policy relating to promoting well-being through sport participation.