SWEDISH TEAM

SWEDISH TEAM – MEDIA GUIDE. European Championships in Athletics – Barcelona 2010.
Presenting Swedish Athletics
The mission of the Swedish Athletic Association, commonly called Swedish Athletics, is
to promote, develop and administer athletics. The role of the Association is to represent
athletics in Sweden while, at the same time, be responsible for international and
national competitions, along with the participation of the National Team in World and
European Championships and international competitions for youths, juniors and
seniors, among others.
Formed in 1895, the Swedish Athletic Association is one of the biggest sports associations
in Sweden. Today, it has approx. 350,000 members, organized in around 1,000
clubs divided into 23 districts. In addition to this, there are a half a million people, the
majority of whom are not connected to an association, participating every year in competitions
on main roads and cross-country. In addition to this, there are more than a
million run who for exercise without taking part in any competition at all.
The basis of all these activities is run by non-profit managers in clubs. Athletics is a
sport that requires a lot of managers, trainers and instructors. Training courses for
these people are arranged by nine Development Centres. On the central level, there are
the Athletics Association Council and the Association Secretariat that carry out what
has been decided on at the annual Association Meeting.
Vision
• That athletics will be one of the country’s most attractive sports, having strong support
from a broad range of the population. Our sport is to be a forerunner, when it
comes to offering all the participants in our activities an enjoyable, stimulating personal
development, physically, psychologically, socially and culturally.
• That athletics will stand for a positive lifestyle, where both top-level and broad activities
provide the power of attraction and inspiration for young and old, women and
men alike, irrespective of their ethnic or social background.
Concept for activities
• That athletics will provide people with the opportunity of being able to participate as
athletes, managers, officials, trainers or simply as parents of athletes for all those that
want. This is to take place through comprehensive national Association activities,
developed and adapted to the demands of the times for meaningful leisure time activities
and carried out in inspiring, practical environments.
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