Which statement best differentiates risk management from crisis management in sport?

• A. Risk management focuses on budgeting; crisis management focuses on scheduling.
• B. Risk management is proactive identification and mitigation of hazards; crisis management responds to unexpected major events with a coordinated plan.
• C. Risk management handles lawsuits; crisis management handles marketing during good times.
• D. They are the same.

Answer: (B)

Risk management is about preventing problems by looking ahead and reducing hazards before they cause harm. It involves identifying potential risks in sport settings—like unsafe facilities, equipment failures, or risky training practices—and putting controls in place to lower likelihood and impact, such as inspections, safety policies, and emergency action plans. Crisis management, on the other hand, comes into play when something unexpected occurs that disrupts operations, requiring a coordinated, rapid response to protect people, stabilize the situation, and begin recovery. In sport, this means using an incident command structure, clear roles, and a crisis communications plan to manage events like a major on-field injury, a facility evacuation, or a natural disaster. The other statements miss the distinction: risk management isn’t just budgeting and crisis management isn’t merely marketing during good times, and they are not the same process.