Read the article:
The paper is peer-reviewed and published in the scientific journal European Sport Management Quarterly: A Danish NGO’s boundary-spanning work supporting children with disabilities in entering sports clubs.
What is the study about?
This is a case study of Specialsport's work in bridging families, schools, sports clubs and municipalities so that children and young people with disabilities can start and stay in a sports club. The study draws on 14 interviews with school leaders/staff, sports coaches/club leaders, municipal employees and Specialsport staff, as well as observations of meetings and activities in three Danish municipalities.
Main conlusions:
- Specialsport acts as a link between families, schools, sports clubs and municipalities – taking on tasks none of the parties could solve alone.
- Schools are used to dismantle scepticism among parents and teachers, for example through "sport shopping", where children try out sport in a safe setting. Sports clubs are equipped through advice, webinars and help finding volunteers, so they dare to – and can – include children with disabilities. Specialsport handles the practical and relational side for families (e.g. transport and contact with the club), so this doesn't become a barrier to the child getting started.
- How well it works varies from place to place, depending on how much trust and support Specialsport has built up locally, and which sports activities are available in the area.
- Success depends on how much trust Specialsport has built locally and which sports activities exist in the municipality – so the effort looks different from place to place.
Published: 2026.
Authors:
Rasmus Vestergaard Andersen, Lars Elbæk, and Birgitte Westerskov Dalgas, University of Southern Denmark.
Support/funding:
Nordea-fonden, Specialsport.dk and University of Southern Denmark.
Contact:
Rasmus Vestergaard Andersen, rvandersen@health.sdu.dk.