The Contribution of Sports Clubs to Public Welfare in European Societies. A Cross-National Comparative Perspective

Abstract

This chapter presents the results from a cross-national comparative analysis of European sports clubs' contribution to public welfare and offers potential explanations for the similarities and differences identified. The analysis reveals how sports clubs make a significant contribution to public welfare with regard to the four functions examined: health promotion, social integration, democracy and voluntary work. However, the contribution of sports clubs to these functions can mainly be understood as side effects to the activities offered by clubs. Sports clubs' contribution to public welfare is in many respects relatively similar, but the analysis also identifies significant differences between countries. Potential explanations for the similarities and differences identified are examined at different levels of analysis. At the macro-level (societal level), explanations pertaining to the historical origin and political opportunity structure for sports clubs are discussed. At the mesolevel (sports club level), potential explanations regarding the constitutive elements and typical features, the organisational capacity as well as the structural characteristics of sports clubs are discussed. At the micro-level (member level), potential explanations pertaining to the social background as well as motivation and engagement of members are discussed. The chapter ends with five awareness points to enhance sports clubs' contribution to public welfare.

Health promoting sports federations: theoretical foundations and guidelines

“…Nevertheless, the White Paper on Sports (European Commission, 2007) and the Global Physical Activity Action Plan 2018-2030 (World Health Organization, 2018) have both underlined sports clubs' underexploited potential to promote health. Sports clubs have been defined as "private, non-profit organizations formally independent of the public sector, including volunteer members and a democratic structure, having sports provisions as their main aim" (7). Sports clubs could go beyond facilitating physical activity, by becoming health promoting settings (8)(9)(10) and by considering their potential to foster social, mental, physical and community health (11) However, evidence shows that this will not happen without support (12).…”