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Item does not contain fulltext, ​This book presents an up-to-date portrait of the characteristics of sport clubs in various European countries and their role in society and the national sport system. Furthermore, it offers a cross-national comparative perspective of sport clubs in twenty European countries. Containing both empirical data and information on the political and historical backgrounds of sport clubs, the book is organized in three parts. First, the authors provide an overview of the theoretical approach of the book and a description of the framework used for the country chapters. Second, the country chapters, written by experts within the field, provide a systematic overview of the available information on sport clubs in each country. These chapters are structured to answer the following questions: (1) What is the position of sport clubs within the national sport structure? (2) Which role do they fulfil in policy and society? (3) What are their basic characteristics and what factors influence the development of sport clubs? The book is concluded with a systematic comparison of the participating countries with the purpose of forging a clear link between the functioning of policy systems, observed problems, and possible solutions, and with a future research agenda on sport clubs. In an era of increased collaboration between European states, sport provides a natural vehicle through which to compare changes in culture, economics, and policy across nations. Sport Clubs in Europe will appeal to scholars of nonprofit management, sports management and sports sociology as well as administrators and policy makers in the international sports community.

Item does not contain fulltext, The preceding 20 chapters have presented national perspectives on sport clubs based on quantitative and descriptive information on the origin of sport clubs, the position of sport clubs within policy and society, and characteristics of sport clubs. In this chapter we offer a cross-national comparison based on the multilevel framework that served as a guideline for the authors for their country chapters. From a macro perspective we pay in this comparison attention to the origin and development of sport clubs and the way sport clubs are embedded in the national sport system, and within policy and society. From a meso perspective we illustrate differences and similarities in the characteristics of sport clubs and identify the main bottlenecks and challenges of sport clubs in the context of the current developments in modern sports and society. Finally, we consider trends and developments and provide a future perspective on sport clubs in Europe and identify knowledge gaps and avenues for future research.

Item does not contain fulltext, Sport clubs have a long tradition in nearly all European countries. They play an important role in the sporting activities of the population, not only for elite and competitive sport but also for sport for all. During the period of over a century in which sport clubs have been existent in Europe, the world around them has been changing continuously. Changes in society, in politics, in population, in economy, in leisure culture and in lifestyles have undoubtedly had an impact on sport and sport clubs all over Europe. Unmistakably, there will be differences between countries with regard to the position and functioning of sport clubs. With this book we aim to present an up-to-date portrait of the characteristics of sport clubs and their embedding in society and the national sport system in 20 European countries, using both a historical and future perspective. This chapter outlines the European context, the applied framework for the cross-national comparison and the structure of the book.

Item does not contain fulltext, To understand the current situation of sport clubs in Europe, one has to consider the history and development of sport clubs within European society. In this chapter we briefly outline the historical roots and basic characteristics of sport clubs, as well as their development through time. We then give an overview of current research topics, presenting different theoretical approaches to form the basis for a multilevel framework of comparison for sport clubs across different European countries.

Item does not contain fulltext, The Netherlands are a prosperous country. Compared to other countries wage differences and social inequality are low, and the standards for education, health, safety and security are high. Furthermore, with approximately 500 inhabitants per square kilometre it is dense populated. The culture of the Dutch is characterised by co-operation and making compromises rather than emphasising differences. With regard to sport these conditions can be considered favourable, as higher income and educational levels are often associated with higher rates of sport participation. Furthermore, the willingness to co-operate and looking for shared interests are essential for the existence of sport clubs with their voluntary staff. Finally, the high population density ensures limited distances to sport facilities and sport clubs.