Public Policies of Recreation/Leisure in the Andean Countries’ Capitals

An Analysis of Implementation

Abstract

The objective of this article is to understand the ways in which the recreation/leisure public policies of the capital cities of Andean countries are  implemented and promote access to actions, spaces and equipment in the context in which they act, seeking to identify which population groups and cultural content is prioritized. The methodology of this qualitative study includes bibliographic review, document analysis, and interviews with 15 national and municipal managers. The results show that the policies implemented privilege certain population groups in function of the vulnerability to which they are exposed, either in regards to their life cycle, identity or condition, which varies according to the context analyzed. Predominance of physical sport cultural content can be noted in the recreation/leisure programs and activities carried out. The spaces/equipment contemplated by sectorial public policy principally consist in sports infrastructure. Analysis of the recreation/leisure public policies in the Andean country capital cities allows us to question and deepen knowledge in this topic with a regional perspective, area in which leisure studies are yet incipient.