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Switzerland: Autonomous Sports Clubs as Contributors to Public Welfare

In: Functions of Sports Clubs in European Societies

Author

Listed:
  • Siegfried Nagel

    (Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern)

  • Pascal Stegmann

    (Institute of Sport Science, University of Bern)

  • Rahel Bürgi

    (Lamprecht & Stamm Sozialforschung und Beratung)

  • Markus Lamprecht

    (Lamprecht & Stamm Sozialforschung und Beratung)

Abstract

About 20% of the Swiss population practise sports in a club, and the nearly 19,000 sports clubs are a core element of the Swiss sports landscape and can contribute to public welfare. Sports clubs are accredited with various socio-political functions, although there are no far-reaching sports policy programmes – except Youth and Sport. The results of this chapter demonstrate that sports clubs can promote public health, social integration and democratic decision-making, particularly through voluntary work by the members. Sports club members usually practise sports regularly. Thus, sports clubs can contribute to individual as well as to public health, even though sports clubs frequently have no specific focus on health promotion. There is considerable evidence that sports clubs are able to contribute to social integration, since they usually promote goals such as openness and conviviality and most members identify with their club and have social networks and friendships. The principle of bottom-up democratic decision-making ensures that the sports programmes fit the interests of the members. Therefore, sports clubs can promote democratic involvement and active citizenship. Particularly volunteering in sports clubs gives people the opportunity to engage for society and therefore can contribute to social cohesion and trust in Swiss society.

Suggested Citation

  • Siegfried Nagel & Pascal Stegmann & Rahel Bürgi & Markus Lamprecht, 2020. "Switzerland: Autonomous Sports Clubs as Contributors to Public Welfare," Sports Economics, Management, and Policy, in: Siegfried Nagel & Karsten Elmose-Østerlund & Bjarne Ibsen & Jeroen Scheerder (ed.), Functions of Sports Clubs in European Societies, chapter 0, pages 289-313, Springer.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:semchp:978-3-030-48535-1_12
    DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-48535-1_12
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