ABSTRACT
Denmark is a small country, with a population of only 5.4 million occupying 43,000 sq km. It is part of the Nordic Region and a member of the European Union. In comparative analyses, the Danish welfare model is referred to as ‘the Scandinavian model’ or ‘the institutionalised welfare model’, and is epitomised by a large public sector and universal, egalitarian and generous welfare provision. The same ideals of equality and welfare have also permeated the history of sport in Denmark,
where a vigorous movement promoting mass participation emerged early on. Strong national organisations coalesced around sport for all concepts, forming a close-knit network of federations promoting non-competitive sport (mainly gymnastics). Special educational establishments (folk high schools) were also established to provide youngsters with informal training as trainer and organiser, and legislation was passed guaranteeing these organisations, associations and educational establishments significant public sector funding. A sport for all ideology, and practices tailored to its needs, took hold. Elite sport was less accepted than its grass-roots equivalent – certain elements of the sporting and political worlds actively opposed elite sport, particularly the supporting of it with public sector funding. Until Team Denmark (TD) (the national institution for elite sport) was set up in the mid 1980s, progress towards providing support for the elite was, therefore, somewhat haphazard. This chapter describes the Danish model for elite sport, analyses the factors that contributed
to the establishment of TD, and concludes with an examination of the challenges currently facing elite sport in Denmark.
