Länge leve dagens idrottsrörelse! : En studie om specialidrottsförbundens förändringsbenägenhet

Sammanfattning: The Swedish sports movement has in recent years raised an age related drop-out problematic. Just like their Scandinavian neighbours the Swedish sports movement appeal less adolescent participants as they grow older. This was largely explained by scholars and the Swedish sports movement as a competitive rationale. Therefore The Swedish Sports Confederation (Riksidrottsförbundet) has introduced a subject of change to become a more inclusive sports movement where people can exercise independently of their competitive commitment. The purpose of the study was to investigate how the national sports associations will manage members’ lifelong commitment to sport. Attitudes to changes was evaluated through the use of interviews with executives and employees in the national sports associations in order to know how the suggested changes will be received. Overall, the participants present elements of a strong competitive culture that tries to prevent the proposed change. Some aspects consisted of time consuming processes, conflicts and differentiated organizing ideas within all organizations. Even though many sports associations argue they have challenging conditions, there are people within the organizations who try to neglect a competitive sports ideal. New forms of ideas might still attract more people to organized sports movement. The main conclusion is that the competitive logic is maintained within the national sports associations. Change of the sports movement’s behaviour patterns will always act in comparison to the historically competitive rationale and therefore also be influenced by it.