NOC Denmark Launches New International Strategy with focus on New Alliances

Geopolitics is currently evolving rapidly and unpredictably. This is reflected in the new international strategy for 2025–2029, which has been approved by the board of DIF, the National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark.

The new strategy states that NOC Denmark will now need to seek out alliance partners it has not previously worked with in order to advance its key priorities.

“We must of course maintain our strong cooperation with the other Nordic countries, but we also need to raise our gaze and look to the rest of the world – for example towards Africa, Asia, and Latin America,” says NOC Denmark President Hans Natorp, and continues:

“If we want to make progress on our key issues, we can’t just meet in small circles with countries that we already agree with. We also need to form alliances with countries from other continents, including those with whom we may not see eye to eye on all matters.”

This approach to cooperation and new alliances mirrors the Danish government's new foreign policy strategy, which emphasizes not avoiding collaboration with countries on matters of mutual interest, even if they do not fully share Denmark’s values.

“One of our three strategic focus areas internationally is climate and sustainability. But we won’t make progress in this area if we only talk among like-minded countries. We need to build alliances with countries where this topic is not typically on the agenda. That’s how we can make a real difference,” emphasizes the NOC Denmark President.

Three Strategic Focus Areas

In addition to climate and sustainability, NOC Denmarks two other strategic focus areas are innovation and sports technology, and integrity, diversity, and human rights.

Beyond forming new alliances, NOC Denmark will also work through national partnerships and knowledge exchange – for example with Play the Game, the Danish Institute for Human Rights, Transparency International, and Amnesty International. Furthermore, NOC Denmark will intensify efforts to get Danish sports leaders elected to influential international positions, enabling them to drive change from within.

Over the years, more and more Danish sports leaders have been elected to international bodies, but in recent years that trend has unfortunately reversed. This is partly due to growing competition from countries that previously had limited focus on international sports politics. However, the hope is that an intensified effort during 2025–2029 will lead to more Danish representatives being elected.

“It’s important that we’re inside the engine room, influencing the decisions being made. We already have skilled Danish sports leaders making an impact internationally, but we should aim to get even more elected so the Danish voice is heard in more places,” says Hans Natorp.