THE BASIC UNIVERSAL PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE OF THE OLYMPIC MOVEMENT: PERCEPTIONS OF ATHLETES AND EXECUTIVES OF THE FLYING DISC ASSOCIATION OF THAILAND.

Good governance is essential to ensuring effective management and sustainability and that the population’s demands are met. However, institutional efforts to address these issues have yet to prevent scandals from occurring within sports administrations. This study compared the Flying Disc Association of Thailand’s (FDAT) athletes’ and executive board members’ understanding, application, and beliefs about the Basic Universal Principles of Good Governance of the Olympic Movement (PGG). A hundred and thirty-two (132) flying disc athletes and fourteen (14) FDAT executives comprised the study’s sample. The questionnaire, which asked questions surrounding the PGG’s seven (7) values – organizational management, democracy, honesty, transparency, solidarity, athlete engagement, and autonomy – was completed by the respondents. To compare participant knowledge, implementation, and PGG beliefs, an independent samples t-test was conducted. Overall, most participants are familiar with the PGG. The perceptions of PGG usage within the FDAT varied statistically across athletes and executives. All categories, except those relating to athletes' representation and the principles of autonomy, had negative connotations from the athletes’ standpoint. In comparison, executives showed a more positive overall perception of PGG application. This study suggest that the FDAT should start providing education if it intends to execute the PGG within the national sports associations and itself. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]