Journal Articles

Dowling, M and Harris, S (2026) Sport governance as a complex adaptive system: toward an integrative framework, Managing Sport and Leisure, ISSN: 2375-0472. DOI: 10.1080/23750472.2026.2731335.

Dowling, M and Fahlén, J (2026) Debunking the myths and misconceptions of comparing sport systems, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, ISSN: 1940-6940. DOI: 10.1080/19406940.2026.2727447.

Byun, J, Park, K, Leopkey, B, Dowling, M (2026) Evolution of collaborative Olympic legacy governance: PyeongChang 2018 to Gangwon 2024, European Sport Management Quarterly, ISSN: 1618-4742. DOI: 10.1080/16184742.2026.2698479.

Dowling, M, Thurston, A, Dickenson, P, Downward, P (2026) Sustainability of national sport organisations: a 5Ps conceptual framework, Managing Sport and Leisure, ISSN: 2375-0472. DOI: 10.1080/23750472.2026.2683994.

Harris, S, Dowling, M, de, JM, Siegel, B (2026) Inspiring a generation: The impression management of the London 2012 sport participation legacy, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, ISSN: 1940-6940. DOI: 10.1080/19406940.2026.2625048.

Dowling, M, Harris, S, Garcia-Garcia, B (2025) Policy implementation and the cascading of good governance in County Football Associations in England, Managing Sport and Leisure, ISSN: 2375-0472. DOI: 10.1080/23750472.2025.2575058.

Byun, J, Hoff, K, Dowling, M (2025) Legitimacy work of Olympic stadium renovations: A multiple case study of Los Angeles and Atlanta, Sport Management Review, 28(5), pp.851-879, ISSN: 1441-3523. DOI: 10.1080/14413523.2025.2516277.

Byun, J, Hoff, K, Dowling, M (2024) Exploring the collaborative governance of Olympic stadium renovations: a multiple case study, European Sport Management Quarterly, 25(4), pp.622-641, ISSN: 1618-4742. DOI: 10.1080/16184742.2024.2412644.

Dowling, M, Harris, S, Johnson, N (2024) The limits of polycentric governing regimes: Preventing athlete abuse in the United States, Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 48(3-4), pp.193-223, ISSN: 0193-7235. DOI: 10.1177/01937235241269946.

Dowling, M (2024) Get Active: “back to the future” with government’s latest national policy for sport and physical activity, Managing Sport and Leisure, 31(3), pp.491-496, ISSN: 2375-0472. DOI: 10.1080/23750472.2024.2326472.

Dowling, M, Robertson, J, Washington, M, Leopkey, B, Ellis, D (2024) Agency and institutions in sport, European Sport Management Quarterly, 24(1), pp.1-7, ISSN: 1618-4742. DOI: 10.1080/16184742.2023.2292102.

Dowling, M, Robertson, J, Washington, M, Leopkey, B, Ellis, DL, Riches, A, Smith, L (2023) “Like Ships in the Night” and the Paradox of Distinctiveness for Sport Management: A Citation Network Analysis of Institutional Theory in Sport, Journal of Sport Management, 37(6), pp.403-416, ISSN: 0888-4773. DOI: 10.1123/jsm.2022-0280.

Harris, S, Dowling, M, Washington, M (2023) Political protest and Rule 50: exploring the polycentric governance of international and Olympic sport, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 15(3), pp.417-434, ISSN: 1940-6940. DOI: 10.1080/19406940.2023.2224345.

Byun, J, Dowling, M, Leopkey, B (2022) Governance of Post-Olympic Games Legacy Organizations: A Comparative Study, Journal of Sport Management, 37(1), pp.27-38, ISSN: 0888-4773. DOI: 10.1123/jsm.2021-0224.

Dowling, M, Harris, S, Washington, M (2021) When a Ban Is Not a Ban: Institutional Work and the Russian Doping Scandal, Journal of Sport Management, 36(5), pp.433-445, ISSN: 0888-4773. DOI: 10.1123/jsm.2021-0185.

Robertson, J, Dowling, M, Washington, M, Leopkey, B, Ellis, DL, Smith, L (2021) Institutional Theory in Sport: A Scoping Review, Journal of Sport Management, 36(5), pp.459-472, ISSN: 0888-4773. DOI: 10.1123/jsm.2021-0179.

Dowling, M and Harris, S (2021) Apples and oranges? Establishing equivalence in comparative sport policy research, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 14(2), pp.191-206, ISSN: 1940-6940. DOI: 10.1080/19406940.2021.1996440.

Dowling, M (2021) Uniting the Movement? A critical commentary on Sport England’s new strategy, Managing Sport and Leisure, 28(5), pp.578-582, ISSN: 2375-0472. DOI: 10.1080/23750472.2021.1942170.

Dowling, M (2021) Governance in Sport: Analysis and Application, Sport Management Education Journal, 15(1), p.63, ISSN: 1938-6974. DOI: 10.1123/smej.2020-0036.

Harris, S, Dowling, M, Houlihan, B (2021) An analysis of governance failure and power dynamics in international sport: the Russian doping scandal, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 13(3), pp.359-378, ISSN: 1940-6940. DOI: 10.1080/19406940.2021.1898443.

Dowling, M, Mackintosh, C, Lee, S, Allen, J (2021) Community sport development: managing change and measuring impact, Managing Sport and Leisure, 26(1-2), pp.1-6, ISSN: 2375-0472. DOI: 10.1080/23750472.2020.1854265.

Harris, S and Dowling, M (2021) Introduction, Sport Participation and Olympic Legacies A Comparative Study, pp.1-21, DOI: 10.4324/9781315523774-1.

Dowling, M, Leopkey, B, Inoue, Y, Berg, BK, Smith, L (2020) Scoping reviews and structured research synthesis in sport: methods, protocol and lessons learnt, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 12(4), pp.765-774, ISSN: 1940-6940. DOI: 10.1080/19406940.2020.1817126.

Henry, I, Dowling, M, Ko, L-M, Brown, P (2020) Challenging the new orthodoxy: a critique of SPLISS and variable-oriented approaches to comparing sporting nations, European Sport Management Quarterly, 20(4), pp.520-536, ISSN: 1618-4742. DOI: 10.1080/16184742.2020.1719428.

Dowling, M and Washington, M (2019) The Social Construction of the Long-Term Athlete Development Framework, Journal of Global Sport Management, 6(2), pp.143-169, ISSN: 2470-4067. DOI: 10.1080/24704067.2018.1557017.

Dowling, M (2018) Exploring Sport Management as an Academic Profession: A Critical Review of Occupational Theory, Journal of Global Sport Management, 3(4), pp.321-338, ISSN: 2470-4067. DOI: 10.1080/24704067.2018.1457970.

Dowling, M, Brown, P, Legg, D, Grix, J (2018) Deconstructing comparative sport policy analysis: assumptions, challenges, and new directions, International Journal of Sport Policy and Politics, 10(4), pp.687-704, ISSN: 1940-6940. DOI: 10.1080/19406940.2018.1530276.

Dowling, M, Leopkey, B, Smith, L (2018) Governance in Sport: A Scoping Review, Journal of Sport Management, 32(5), pp.438-451, ISSN: 0888-4773. DOI: 10.1123/jsm.2018-0032.

Dowling, M, Brown, P, Legg, D, Beacom, A (2018) Living with imperfect comparisons: The challenges and limitations of comparative paralympic sport policy research, Sport Management Review, 21(2), pp.101-113, ISSN: 1441-3523. DOI: 10.1016/j.smr.2017.05.002.

Smith, L, López Sánchez, G, Díaz Suárez, A, Stubbs, B, Dowling, M, Scruton, A, Roberts, J, Johnstone, J, Pardhan, S (2018) Barriers and Facilitators of Physical Activity in Children of a South Asian Ethnicity, Sustainability, 10(3), pp.761-761, DOI: 10.3390/su10030761.

Dowling, M and Washington, M (2017) The governing of governance: metagovernance and the creation of new organizational forms within Canadian sport, Managing Sport and Leisure, 22(6), pp.458-471, ISSN: 2375-0472. DOI: 10.1080/23750472.2018.1519376.

Dowling, M and Washington, M (2017) Epistemic Communities and Knowledge-Based Professional Networks in Sport Policy and Governance: A Case Study of the Canadian Sport for Life Leadership Team, Journal of Sport Management, 31(2), pp.133-147, ISSN: 0888-4773. DOI: 10.1123/jsm.2016-0071.

Dowling, M and Smith, J (2016) The Institutional Work of Own the Podium in Developing High-Performance Sport in Canada, Journal of Sport Management, 30(4), pp.396-410, ISSN: 0888-4773. DOI: 10.1123/jsm.2014-0290.

Dowling, M, Edwards, J, Washington, M (2014) Understanding the concept of professionalisation in sport management research, Sport Management Review, 17(4), pp.520-529, ISSN: 1441-3523. DOI: 10.1016/j.smr.2014.02.003.

Dowling, M, Robinson, L, Washington, M (2013) Taking advantage of the London 2012 Olympic Games: corporate social responsibility through sport partnerships, European Sport Management Quarterly, 13(3), pp.269-292, ISSN: 1618-4742. DOI: 10.1080/16184742.2013.774039.

Books

Girginov, V and Dowling, M (2025) Management of Sports Development: SECOND EDITION. DOI: 10.4324/9781003510260.

Dowling, M, Robertson, J, Washington, M, Leopkey, B, Ellis, D (2024) Agency and Institutions in Sport, Routledge, DOI: 10.4324/9781003503545.

Byun, J, Leopkey, B, Dowling, M (2024) Governing Post-Winter Olympic Games Legacies, Springer Nature Singapore, ISBN: 9789819730100. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-97-3011-7.

Dowling, M, Harris, S, Mackintosh, C (2023) Sport Policy Across the United Kingdom: A Comparative Analysis. DOI: 10.4324/9781003241232.

Dowling, M and Harris, S (2021) Comparing Sporting Nations Theory and Method, Meyer & Meyer Sport, ISBN: 9781782558644.

Harris, S and Dowling, M (2021) Sport Participation and Olympic Legacies: A Comparative Study. DOI: 10.4324/9781315523774.

Chapters

Thurston, A and Dowling, M (2026) Singapore and Mega-Sporting Event Hosting and High-Performance Sport Investment as a “Smart Power” Strategy. In Routledge Handbook of Sport and Soft Power, Routledge, pp.218-228, DOI: 10.4324/9781003545255-26.

Dowling, M (2025) Sport governance codes as social and cultural norms. In Handbook on Sport and Culture, Edward Elgar Publishing, pp.35-47, ISBN: 9781035339976. DOI: 10.4337/9781035339983.00009.

Dowling, M and Harris, S (2025) Non- and Quasi-Governmental Organisations in Sports Development. In Management of Sports Development Second Edition, pp.98-112, DOI: 10.4324/9781003510260-9.

Postlethwaite, V and O'Byrne, D (2025) International sports development policies. In Girginov, V and Dowling, M (ed) Management of Sports Development [2nd edition], Routledge, pp.113-128, ISBN: 9781003510260. DOI: 10.4324/9781003510260.

Harris, S and Dowling, M (2025) The UK model of sport: Early pioneer and contemporary revisionist. In European Model of Sport Myth or Reality, pp.153-168, DOI: 10.4324/9781032665153-13.

Harris, S and Dowling, M (2025) The UK Model of Sport. In The European Model of Sport, Taylor & Francis, pp.153-168, DOI: 10.4324/9781032665153-13.

Dowling, M (2025) LONDON 2012: Did it inspire a generation?. In Duignan, M (ed) Events and Society: Bridging Theory and Practice, Routledge, pp.31-38, ISBN: 9781003488729. DOI: 10.4324/9781003488729-5.

Dowling, M (2025) London 2012. In Events and Society, Taylor & Francis, pp.31-38, DOI: 10.4324/9781003488729-5.

Dowling, M, Robertson, J, Washington, M, Leopkey, B, Ellis, D (2024) Introduction. In Agency and Institutions in Sport, Routledge, pp.1-7, DOI: 10.4324/9781003503545-1.

Dowling, M, Robertson, J, Washington, M, Leopkey, B, Ellis, D (2024) Introduction. In Agency and Institutions in Sport, Taylor & Francis, pp.1-7, DOI: 10.4324/9781003503545-1.

Byun, J, Leopkey, B, Dowling, M (2024) The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games: LIFT Impact Partners. In Mega Event Planning, Springer Nature Singapore, pp.55-71, ISBN: 9789819730100. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-97-3011-7_4.

Byun, J, Leopkey, B, Dowling, M (2024) The 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Winter Games: Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation. In Mega Event Planning, Springer Nature Singapore, pp.25-42, ISBN: 9789819730100. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-97-3011-7_2.

Byun, J, Leopkey, B, Dowling, M (2024) Discussion and Conclusion. In Mega Event Planning, Springer Nature Singapore, pp.89-116, ISBN: 9789819730100. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-97-3011-7_6.

Byun, J, Leopkey, B, Dowling, M (2024) Introduction. In Mega Event Planning, Springer Nature Singapore, pp.1-24, ISBN: 9789819730100. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-97-3011-7_1.

Byun, J, Leopkey, B, Dowling, M (2024) The 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games: PyeongChang Legacy Foundation. In Mega Event Planning, Springer Nature Singapore, pp.73-87, ISBN: 9789819730100. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-97-3011-7_5.

Byun, J, Leopkey, B, Dowling, M (2024) The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Winter Games: Whistler Sport Legacies. In Mega Event Planning, Springer Nature Singapore, pp.43-54, ISBN: 9789819730100. DOI: 10.1007/978-981-97-3011-7_3.

Dowling, M, Harris, S, Mackintosh, C (2023) Introduction. In Sport Policy Across the United Kingdom, Taylor & Francis, pp.1-19, DOI: 10.4324/9781003241232-1.

Dowling, M, Harris, S, Mackintosh, C (2023) Introduction. In Sport Policy Across the United Kingdom A Comparative Analysis, pp.1-19, DOI: 10.4324/9781003241232-1.

Dowling, M, Harris, S, Mackintosh, C (2023) Conclusion. In Sport Policy Across the United Kingdom A Comparative Analysis, pp.108-128, DOI: 10.4324/9781003241232-6.

Dowling, M and Harris, S (2023) National Governing Bodies of Sport. In Implementing Sport Policy Organisational Perspectives on the Uk Sport System, pp.37-56, DOI: 10.4324/9781003162728-3.

Harris, S and Dowling, M (2021) London 2012. In Sport Participation and Olympic Legacies, Taylor & Francis, pp.105-131, DOI: 10.4324/9781315523774-6.

Harris, S and Dowling, M (2021) Introduction. In Sport Participation and Olympic Legacies, Taylor & Francis, pp.1-21, DOI: 10.4324/9781315523774-1.

Harris, S and Dowling, M (2021) Conclusion. In Sport Participation and Olympic Legacies A Comparative Study, pp.182-201, DOI: 10.4324/9781315523774-9.

Harris, S and Dowling, M (2021) London 2012: Inspire a generation. In Sport Participation and Olympic Legacies A Comparative Study, pp.106-131, DOI: 10.4324/9781315523774-6.

Dowling, M, Leopkey, B, Robertson, J (2021) Stakeholders in the Active Economy. In Understanding the Active Economy and Emerging Research on the Value of Sports, Recreation, and Wellness, IGI Global, pp.40-61, DOI: 10.4018/978-1-7998-7939-8.ch003.

Harris, S and Dowling, M (2020) The influence of power and politics in sport. In Managing Sport Across Borders, pp.101-126.

Dowling, M, Legg, D, Brown, P (2018) Comparative sport policy analysis and paralympic sport. In Palgrave Handbook of Paralympic Studies, pp.249-272, DOI: 10.1057/978-1-137-47901-3_12.

Dowling, M and Legg, D (2017) Stakeholders and the paralympic games. In Managing the Paralympics, pp.21-47, DOI: 10.1057/978-1-137-43522-4_2.

Internet Publications

Zhou, H, Garcia Garcia, B, Dowling, M (2026) Fifa president Gianni Infantino set for fourth term – despite World Cup controversies.

Dowling, M and Zhou, H (2026) What the World Cup hydration breaks reveal about who governs men’s football.

Dowling, M (2026) We watched the first Enhanced Games live in Las Vegas – this is what we learned.

Dowling, M (2026) The Enhanced Games: ‘dangerous clown show’ or a wake‑up call for traditional sport?.

Postlethwaite, V and Dowling, M (2024) Four reasons the UK should bid for the 2040 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Datasets

Dowling, M and Harris, S (2026) Supplementary information files for "Sport governance as a complex adaptive system: toward an integrative framework", DOI: 10.17028/rd.lboro.33173426.

Dowling, M, Thurston, A, Dickenson, P, Downward, P (2026) Supplementary information files for "Sustainability of national sport organisations: a 5Ps conceptual framework", DOI: 10.17028/rd.lboro.32660721.

Byun, J, Hoff, K, Dowling, M (2025) Supplementary information files for "Legitimacy work of Olympic stadium renovations: A multiple case study of Los Angeles and Atlanta", DOI: 10.17028/rd.lboro.29513540.