Elite Model
Elite Model
In 1984 the Danish parliament passed "The Act on the Promotion of Elite-Class Sports" introducing government support for the improvement of the conditions under which elite sportsmen and sportswomen work and strengthening Danish sports internationally.
Team Denmark was established for this purpose. This self-governing elite sports institution has as its main task "initiating, co-ordinating and making effective joint measures for elite sports in a socially acceptable way."
Team Denmark
During the 22 years in which Team Denmark has existed, remarkable results for Danish elite sports have been achieved. Through the close co-operation between Team Denmark, DIF (The Danish Sports Confederation) and the national federations significant advancement of several elite sports has been achieved.
The number of medals won at international championships has almost doubled, and the number of national federations that have won medals has almost doubled as well. In parallel with the support for elite performance, Team Denmark is working to ensure that elite sportsmen and sportswomen do not lack out on education and career opportunities when their sports careers have ended.
Team Denmark administers a budget of approximately DKK 142 million per year. This budget is made up of funds from the Danish Ministry of Culture through pools and lottery of around DKK 83 million per year, and around DKK 21 million from DIF. The remaining part stems from incomes from the sale of TV rights and from Team Denmark’s own sponsorship and marketing initiatives.
Elite support from Team Denmark adds to the resources that the national federations provide for the work with elite sports. The national federations receive DKK 77.8 million per year from Team Denmark. This is funding for activities at centres, training, instruction, support for education and direct support for elite sportsmen and sportswomen. The national federations help finance these activities and also carry out work with talents and potential talents.
Since 2002 DIF and Team Denmark have worked together in the common commission, The Elite Sports Commission. The commission has negotiated the criteria for participation in the 2006 Olympic Winter Games with the national federations. In addition, the commission has begun working on a set of elite definitions in order to reach a common terminology and understanding together with DIF, Team Denmark, national federations, clubs and sportspeople on who will be covered by the elite concept. The commission’s elite definitions include a division of the elite concept in an international, national and club elite.
In 2004 the Danish parliament passed a new law on elite sports which has changed the basis for Team Denmark’s work and increased co-operation between Team Denmark, the Government and DIF. The law which came into force in June 2004 implies among other things, that Team Denmark is allowed to support elite athletes, who are younger than 15 years old.