The operationalization of public resources in the career of high-performance swimmers

This study aimed to analyze the operationalization of public resources received by Brazilian high-performance swimmers through the identification of resources and the monitoring of activities and actions developed. The study consisted of ex post monitoring and evaluation research with a qualitative approach. Six semistructured interviews were conducted with managers and beneficiaries of the program, in addition to document analysis. Through the analysis of the discourses, the following categories of analysis were identified: criteria for selection, maintenance and termination of the benefit, construction and execution of the sports plan of the beneficiary athletes, attributions of the working group, criteria for the use of the resources received, possibilities of use of the resource, accountability, accumulation of resources, importance of the management of the resources received, and suggestions for other forms of decentralization of public resources. Resources directed toward athletes are generally used for the cost of human resources and the hiring of a multidisciplinary team, international travel and training, in addition to the purchase of equipment and supplementation items. With respect to the accountability of athletes, it is possible to see that it occurs solely and exclusively in relation to the results obtained and the sports goals achieved.