Denmark: Disability sports policy at arm’s length

In this chapter we combine existing knowledge into a coherent narrative about disability sport in Denmark. Our chapter shows that the ‘arm’s length principle’ generally found in Danish sports policy is apparent also with regard to disability sport. ‘Sport for all’ is the stated goal of sports policy in Denmark, and there is a generous funding scheme accompanied by the political expectation that the voluntary sports sector (NSOs, sports clubs) will work for the integration of people with disabilities. This goal is stated in framework agreements between the NSOs and the Ministry of Culture, but it is not followed by concrete and binding policies. This leaves the NSOs with a high degree of autonomy to work towards inclusion as they see fit. Furthermore, no systematic evaluations of the initiatives to promote inclusion exist. National surveys have documented that the rates of participation are generally lower among people with disabilities and decrease with the severity of the disability. Thus, it is apparent that even though the Danish ‘arm’s length principle’ has produced one of the highest sports participation rates in Europe, it is unclear if this is also the best strategy for promoting sports participation among people with disabilities.