ABSTRACT
Over the last 30 or so years, the number and array of government policies for sport development related activities has increased across countries as diverse as Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Australia, Germany and New Zealand (Bergsgard et al. 2007; Collins 2008; Green and Houlihan 2005; Stewart et al. 2004; Teo 2008). The trajectory of sport development may have varied between nations, but there has been strong commonality across a range of diverse policy areas such as health, social inclusion, social development, economic development and elite sporting success (Houlihan 1997). Finland’s early use of sport as part of social policy stands in contrast to the sport policy development of many other Western countries. Since the early 1960s Finnish sport activities and policies have focused on the promotion of sport for all (SfA) over and above elite sport (Green and Collins 2008). A consistent approach to supporting and developing opportunities for all Finns to participate in sport has resulted in Finland achieving participation levels that are the envy of other countries (cf. DCMS/Strategy Unit 2002).
