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Bulgarian Fitness Industry: Policies, Processes and Providers

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The Rise and Size of the Fitness Industry in Europe

Abstract

This chapter interrogates the changing nature of fitness provision in Bulgaria: from the predominantly collective forms of provision and consumption until 1990s to the current more individual and deregulated market in urban settings. The study utilises an inductive qualitative methodology and builds on two data sources: (i) a comprehensive literature review; and (ii) interviews with key fitness providers. The current market-based fitness provision is driven primarily by widely dispersed and diverse private actors. The fitness industry in Bulgaria lacks the level of formalisation and regulation that exists elsewhere in Europe. In addition, the lack of systematic information about fitness participation makes any planning and delivery of fitness services challenging. New emerging processes signal for impending changes with political, institutional and structural implications for the sector.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sport Management, National Sports Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria

    Ivan Sandanski

  2. Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University, London, UK

    Vassil Girginov

Authors
  1. Ivan Sandanski
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  2. Vassil Girginov
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Correspondence to Ivan Sandanski .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Jeroen Scheerder

  2. University of Jyväskylä, Jyväskylä, Finland

    Hanna Vehmas

  3. KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Kobe Helsen

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Sandanski, I., Girginov, V. (2020). Bulgarian Fitness Industry: Policies, Processes and Providers. In: Scheerder, J., Vehmas, H., Helsen, K. (eds) The Rise and Size of the Fitness Industry in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53348-9_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-53348-9_4

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-53347-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-53348-9

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

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