Athletes’ careers in Denmark: Nurturing athletic talents

Abstract

Fact note: Denmark is located in northern Europe. It is a small country of 43,094 km 2 with a population of 5.5 million. Danish society is characterized by ideals of equality and is renowned worldwide for its social welfare pro le, which includes a system of redistribution of wealth whereby high income taxes nance a school system that is free and open to all, where access to healthcare is free, and where a nely balanced social security system supports all those in need. Sport: Danish mass sport is organized in independent sporting organizations, while elite sport is managed by a separate institution, Team Denmark. The most popular youth sports are soccer, handball, swimming and gymnastics, whereas the most successful sports (in terms of international results at the junior and senior levels) are sailing, handball, swimming, golf, rowing, badminton and cycling. Career research and assistance: Despite its small population, Denmark has large sporting ambitions. This fact has stimulated a national focus on nurturing talented athletes. Research into sporting careers, conducted from an individual perspective, has mapped successful athletes’ pathways to the elite level in their sport and has investigated the problematic issues of pursuing dual careers in sport and education. Another line of research is conducted using a holistic ecological approach originated in Denmark, and environments that successfully help athletes manage the transition from junior to elite senior sport are investigated here. These forms of research are mirrored in the applied eld, for example through initiatives taken to support athletes in managing dual careers.