Study visit in Denmark – SPORTLINK report article
Within the framework of the Erasmus + Program mobility for sports professionals 10 NSULF-affiliated colleagues travelled to Copenhagen, Denmark between October 29 and November 1, 2025. The aim of the mobility planned for the Danish DGI (Danske Gymnastic og Idraetsforeninnger) mass and leisure sports organization was for the participants to learn about DGI’s programs supporting leisure sports and a healthy lifestyle and its practical implementation methods and venues.
As part of the mobility, the delegation participated in discussions and site visits with the employees of the DGI’s Copenhagen, as well as in a large-scale international leisure sports conference, the MOVE Congress, where the participants could increase their knowledge through presentations and interactive workshops along the professional priorities and topics determined by DGI and ISCA as co-organizer ISCA.
During the mobility, participants learned that there are currently 2 major sports umbrella organizations in Denmark:
- one is the Danish Sport Federation, which also cooperates with the Team Denmark Olympic team;
- the other is the DGI, which focuses on Danish leisure sports with 14 regional member organizations.
DGI Copenhagen – i.e. the sports association organizing leisure sports in the Danish capital and surrounding smaller towns – provides the necessary funding for its programs from state subsidies, as well as from private sources and project-based financing. It launches programs aimed at different target groups, such as young people (schools, kindergartens); the elderly appear as a priority target group, and the area of health and exercise with a focus on both physical and mental health.
Members of the mobility team together with DGI Copenhagen’s employees participated in a cycling program, which is also a good example of sponsorship. The Nordea bank provided bicycles for a large-scale leisure sports event held every 4 years. The bank, in cooperation with DGI, provides bicycles to sports and social organizations through a tender process.
The bicycle tour also well illustrated the core values of the Scandinavian sports model, as 80% of the organizers accompanying the delegation were volunteers, senior cyclists.
Project Information:
Type: KA182-SPO
Project Number: 2025-1-HU01-KA182-SPO-000301291
Beneficiary: National School, University and Leisure Sport Federation
Host organisation: DGI Copenhagen
Duration: Aug 1, 2025 – May 31, 2026
More information: https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/projects/search/details/2025-1-HU01-KA182-SPO-000301291
“Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or Tempus Public Foundation. Neither the European Union nor Tempus Public Foundation can be held responsible for them.”
