Elite Sports Development in Egalitarian Contexts

Elite sport should be an anomaly in Scandinavia, a context epitomising egalitarian values and often characterised by a cultural scepticism towards overt individualism and personal success. So how is it that elite sport is not only possible, but also widely celebrated and cherished by disproportionately large segments of the Scandinavian populations? In this chapter, we propose that part of the answer lies in a series of compromises that bridge deeply ingrained ideological commitments with the modernising forces embedded in the development of contemporary sport. We focus on two phenomena in Scandinavian sport that we conceptualise as compromises: first, the tension between the phenomenological structure of sport and children’s rights; and second, the balance between developing young elite athletes and preparing them for a productive working life. Taken together, these compromises illustrate how moderation in Scandinavia is not merely an ideological middle ground, but a strategic approach – one that underpins the long-term sporting success of the region.