RF's chairman for fewer young sports: "I look at it seriously"

The Center for Sports Research's latest report shows what association sports look like in our exposed residential areas (57). In these areas, sports are generally at a lower level than the national average, 43 percent compared to 64.

Sweden's worst is the Södertalje suburb of Hovsjö at 25.2 percent.

The police divide Sweden's vulnerable areas into three categories. An exposed area is a geographically bounded area characterized by a low socio-economic status where the criminals have an impact on the local community.

The fact that young people are increasingly inactive right here is also the Sports Federation's chairman Björn Eriksson.

- Of course I take it seriously. It is the way of working that is crucial. For us, it has taken a while to get out of the starting boxes, ”Eriksson tells SVT Sport.

The study is based on children and adolescents between the ages of 7 and 20. State sports support has increased every year since 2015. Björn Eriksson does not consider this money to be a solution to the problem.

- It is not the grant systems that are wrong. The distribution problem does not exist. It is to make it easy for them. This will take a while. I have tried to highlight this to politicians. Some listen, others do not. We must make contributions in these areas and be patient. Maybe start "Try on" and try to reach school yards, says Eriksson.

Johan R Norberg, who wrote the report, believes that the Swedish association model has a challenge. This statement is now supported by Björn Eriksson.

- The entire Swedish sports movement is based on civilian forces. Here we see that we achieve results when we are not too Swedish. That is, talk about membership and commitment. There has been a huge change in Swedish society in recent years. For us, it has taken a while to get out of the starting boxes, says Eriksson.

In order to remedy the problem, Eriksson and the Swedish Sports Federation have appointed "strategy 2025". A vision of how the union life should recruit and bring in new leaders.

- The leader activity in the exposed areas is low and then the result is also poor. The fire-souls come from within civil society. We need to get a new spirit into the areas so that there will be new fire souls. This cannot be commanded. But we can assist with resources so there are conditions, ”concludes Eriksson.