ADAPTABILITY OF SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE TO MODERN CHALLENGES: INTEGRATION OF SECURITY, DEMOGRAPHIC, AND GOVERNANCE PARADIGMS FOR REGIONAL-LEVEL IMPLEMENTATION

Abstract

This paper examines the conceptual foundations and practical mechanisms for transforming sports infrastructure management systems in the context of contemporary challenges, with a particular focus on the regional level. The study aims to critically synthesize existing conceptual and methodological principles of adaptive sports infrastructure management at the regional level and develop practical recommendations for implementing principles of adaptability, multifunctionality, and inclusiveness in regional strategies and programs for sports infrastructure development. The research’s relevance is driven by unprecedented destruction of sports facilities due to Russian aggression, which presents a unique window of opportunity for fundamental modernization of the sector. Based on the analysis of global trends and national practices, three key transformation dimensions are identified: security (transition to dual-purpose facilities), demographic (adaptation to the needs of the “silver generation”), and managerial (shift from sectoral to ecosystem governance model). In the first part of the main material, an important conclusion is made that traditional sectoral models are giving way to intersectoral formats that integrate various societal practices around sports facilities. Accordingly, management innovations are further proposed to transform sports infrastructure into multifunctional nodes of the network of public spaces in communities. The study diagnoses major dysfunctions in the traditional management system: lack of security component integration, disregard for demographic changes, departmental isolation, and dominance of directive-administrative methods. A comprehensive set of recommendations is proposed for implementing adaptability and inclusiveness principles in regional sports infrastructure development programs, including: introduction of cross-sectoral approach to strategic planning, establishment of grant programs supporting innovative solutions, development of change leadership competencies among sector managers, and implementation of new-generation performance indicators. The research substantiates that transitioning from the traditional departmental-sectoral to a more flexible ecosystem management model will transform sports infrastructure from a budgetary burden into a driver of sustainable territorial development.