FROM POLICY TO PERFORMANCE: EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SPORT POLICY IMPLEMENTATION AND SPORTS DEVELOPMENT OUTCOMES IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA

This study examined the relationship between sport policy implementation and sports development outcomes in Rivers State, Nigeria. Specifically, it assessed the extent of sport policy implementation and examined its relationship with sports development outcomes. A correlational research design was adopted. The population comprised 400 stakeholders in the sports sector, from which a sample of 200 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula. The study used a structured questionnaire for data collection, and 172 completed questionnaires were retrieved, representing an 86% return rate. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviation, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation at the 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed moderate sport policy implementation (grand mean = 2.81), while sports development outcomes were also moderate (grand mean = 2.99). The results further revealed a significant moderate positive relationship between sport policy implementation and sports development outcomes (r = .577, p < .001). The study therefore rejected the null hypothesis, indicating that more effective sport policy implementation was associated with improved sports development outcomes in Rivers State. The study concluded that strengthening funding, sports infrastructure, human-resource development, athlete support, stakeholder participation, and monitoring and evaluation would enhance the translation of sport policies into sustainable sports development outcomes. The study recommends a stronger policy-to-performance framework anchored on adequate resource allocation, institutional accountability, evidence-based monitoring, and continuous evaluation of sports programs in Rivers State.