There was a great deal of expectation among the Norwegian crew at the recently wrapped World Athletics Championships.
The 2007 reform to the 1987 law known as “Child Rights in Sports” is what gave rise to the present generation of athletes. The opening statement of the eight-page booklet, “Children are engaged in sports because they enjoy it,” sums up the entire lot.
A record number of kids participate in sports in Norway, not because of organised contests but rather because they like it. Children are not permitted to specialise until they are 12 years old, and there are no competitive events until that age. As a result, the majority of children engage in a variety of sports, which not only relieves strain but also promotes a more comprehensive physical development in youth.
Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the current Olympic champion and world no.1 male 1500-meter runner, was encouraged to participate in a variety of sports as a youngster by his family.
The Scandinavian nation led the medal tally at the Winter Olympics this year with 37, including another record-breaking accomplishment of 16 gold medals. Furthermore, while the Nordic region’s environment makes it an ideal location for winter sports, it has also seen unparalleled success in summer sports.
Magnus Carlsen, the current five-time World Champion and World No. 1 in chess, Casper Ruud, the No. 6 men’s golfer in the world, and Viktor Hovland, the No. 9 golfer in the world who tied for fourth place at The Open this month, are all natives of Norway. Add to that Ada Hegerberg, a trailblazer for women’s sports who was the first woman to win the Ballon d’Or and is the all-time leading scorer in the UEFA Women’s Champions League with six titles.
Developed nations like the United States, where students are forced into competitive contexts at an early age and there is a tremendous need for scholarships, do not operate in the same way as Norway. Or, unlike India, where athletes who want to pursue sports professionally must be able to compete at the highest level by a particular age and where the stakes are much higher.
The GOAL
The Norwegian government’s strategy prioritises young athletes’ physical and mental health in addition to allowing them to participate in a variety of sports, which fosters versatility and physical prowess and prevents the development of athletes who are only good at one sport. The most well-known instance is Erling Haaland, one of the best players in European football.
Modern European football serves as the best advertisement for professional sports, and Haaland’s rise to the top, symbolised by his recent high-profile transfer to Manchester City, has made him one of Norway’s most recognisable sportsmen.
It is difficult for Norway to reproduce this system in nations like India or the US due to the sociopolitical and economic contrasts between those two nations. However, the fact that the world’s finest athletes come from a childhood system that places fun ahead of capturing the illusive Under-12 district title does demonstrate that there are lessons to be learned.
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