Abstract

While sport for all is a popular topic in both policy and research, and leaning on the egalitarian policies and culture of Scandinavian countries, this article discusses sport for all within the Scandinavian sport and sport policy context. First, sketching the national political and organizational arrangements of sport in the three Scandinavian countries, the main part of the article discusses the limitations of the possibilities for reaching sport for all through the established institutional arrangements. The main findings are that, although more inclusive in participation terms than many other countries, the sport organizations in Scandinavia are exclusive in at least two ways. During adolescence, most people quit organized sport, and the patterns of participants follow socio-economic division lines favouring the middle class. Second, sport for all is difficult to achieve because other conventions, such as the competitive one, dominate the sport organizations. In sum, the balance between focusing on competition and providing sport for all is extremely difficult, and alternatives are vulnerable since sport subsidies from the state traditionally go to monopolistic umbrella organizations in Scandinavia. Nevertheless, there are indications that in order to get closer to sport for all, differentiation is needed to challenge the hegemonic structures and institutional relationships. Verf.-Referat