ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an understanding of sports participation in Sweden by placing it in a socio-political context. It shows how substantial financial support, together with civic engagement and enthusiasm, has been turned into participation in sport and exercise in Sweden. Voluntary and membership-based club sport is characteristic of the Nordic region as well as an integral part of Swedish society. The defining characteristic of, and main organising principle for, contemporary club sport in Sweden is that of individuals forming and/or taking part as voluntary members of sports clubs. The representative democracy is described as the cornerstone of Swedish club sport as well as a significant contributory factor in the civic education of Swedish citizens. While focusing primarily on who does what and how, how much and where, the chapter also sketches the context surrounding these activities in terms of organisation, politics, culture and commerce, before concluding with an outline of issues in, and prognoses for, future sports participation in Sweden.
