Sports policy

The sports policy of the City of Copenhagen was developed on the basis of sport policy reports and can be summarized into 3 general principles:

• The vision is that Copenhagen will develop – also in the area of sports – as a city for Copenhageners, the capital of Denmark, and an international city.

• Copenhagen sports policy is based on the cultural-political perspective. This defines that sports has a value in and of itself, expressed in the joy of movement, play, and social interaction. The cultural-political approach to sports does not, however, exclude the concept that extra effort can/should be made to incorporate the benefits of sports within the areas of integration, health, or social policy.

• The goal is to ensure continued development of facilities and activities for the benefit of as many citizens of Copenhagen as possible. Included here are citizens not currently involved in sports, but who have an interest in becoming involved at some point in their lives.

Municipal Promotion of Sports

Target

• to set up and extend a close-knit and high-quality network for sports and exercise facilities for everyone.

Being a partner in sport includes

• Maintenance of sports facilities (free of charge)

• Developing new sports facilities

• Promoting sport and exercise (events etc.)

• Advisory service for clubs, sports organisations and individual citizens

• Grants for members between 0-25 years (children and youth have special rights and privileges).

Sports Clubs/Associations

In the city of Copenhagen, approved adult education organisations and volunteer public education associations can apply to use municipal recreation facilities (both indoor and outdoor). In order to do so the association/organisation must be approved by the Adult Education Act.

A total of 874 associations/organisations have booked one or more hours at the municipal sports facilities in 2010 – indoors and outdoors.

A total of 489 associations were granted financial subsidies for 2010, and most of these were sports associations. These associations count 124,565 citizens among their members, of whom 47,709 are between the ages of 0 and 19 years. The City of Copenhagen focuses on children and youth, which is why the sports associations with large numbers of young people also receive the largest subsidies from the municipality. Young people between 0-19 years of age are also given precedence in booking sports facilities during prime time (daily from 4 pm to 8 pm).

There are a total of 1,115 different sports associations which have either received municipal grants or have booked time at a municipal sports facility. Public education is one of Culture and Recreation’s primary target groups (see below).

Room to Move (Facilities, Playgrounds, Parks)

Copenhagen’s sports policy aims to make sports and exercise both attractive and accessible as a recreation activity for the city’s children, youth, and adults. To this end the development of more and quality sports facilities is an important directional tool. Based on the city’s sports picture, Copenhagen sports facilities have sought development within three areas:

• Facilities mainly used by sports associations or other forms of organised activity – e.g. sports halls, ball parks and dedicated complexes.

• Facilities primarily for self-organised activities – e.g. swimming pools, outdoor skating rinks, jogging paths, green ball playing areas, movement and (sports) playgrounds.

• Facilities primarily for daily exercise and physical activities – e.g. paths and green areas suitable for cycling, walking, and jogging.

There are 9 public swimming pools in Copenhagen and 2 private ones. Additionally, there are 14 other facilities featuring water amenities, such as outdoor pools, harbour swimming, sauna/steam rooms and water cultural facilities.

There are 41 municipal sports centres of 800 m² or more in Copenhagen, and 6 private ones.

There are 207 football pitches of varying sizes in Copenhagen. 122 of them are 11-a-side grass fields, 12 have artificial turf, while 5 are gravel. The remaining 68 pitches are either 7-a-side or 5-a-side.

There are approx. 150 additional sports facilities in Copenhagen, including skating rinks, harbour swimming pools, a number of small sports halls located in schools, etc.

Playgrounds and parks

The City of Copenhagen has over 100 public playgrounds; 28 of these are staffed playgrounds with trained education personnel generally on site between 9 am and 5 pm on weekdays. More than every third playground in the City of Copenhagen is located in a green area.

Parks in the City of Copenhagen provide daily nature experiences to the many visitors seeking activities, recreation or just rest and relaxation. Copenhagen is home to no less than 20 public parks.

Fælledparken is located in Østerbro and is Copenhagen’s favourite activity park. For 100 years it has provided the setting for cultural events, sports, and outdoor activities. The park is 58 hectares in area and consists of two sections, Blegdams and Klosterfælled, and is bisected by Øster Allé. Fælledparken attracts almost 11 million visitors each year and is popular for both physical activity and relaxation purposes. The park also hosts Denmark’s national football stadium, “Parken”.

Sport System Denmark

Sector of sports is separated from kindergarten and school.

School and Day Care System

After several recent amalgamations there are now 56 public schools in Copenhagen. Previously this number was 67. There are also private schools and continuation schools in Copenhagen which operate with financial assistance from the municipality.

Currently the Children and Youth Administration is involved in approx. 230 building projects in the school and day-care sector, and correspondingly there is a great deal of activity in terms of renovation and new building projects in the City of Copenhagen.

Motivation to be in the project/goals

Finding new approaches and solutions for problems like managing sports venues/facilities. Children’s delivery of movement.