Comparison of sports policies of the republic of Türkiye and the USA (2017-2022)

The need to understand how different governance models influence the effectiveness of national sports systems necessitated a comparative analysis of the sports policies of Türkiye and the United States for the period 2017-2022. This study examines sports policies across the themes of governance, financing, participation, legislation, facility infrastructure, and education. A mixed qualitative-quantitative method was employed, and a policy congruence index was developed using G₁-G₁₂ indicators based on the Council of Europe’s S4 framework and OECD thematic areas. Data were collected from open-access sources including the Official Gazette, Court of Accounts, USOPC, CDC, and NCAA. The analysis revealed that despite the decentralized nature of the U.S. system, it achieves high levels of participation and club membership; whereas Türkiye, despite its centralized structure and strong legal and financial frameworks, exhibits structural inefficiencies due to low participation and limited club activity. Türkiye demonstrates strengths in infrastructure and coaching, while the U.S. surpasses in facility access and flexible participation models. In conclusion, while Türkiye’s centralized model ensures institutional coherence, it struggles to transform sports into a widespread cultural practice; conversely, the U.S., through cultural and pedagogical integration, maintains a more effective profile in engaging individuals in sport despite its fragmented structure.