The annual Shanghai ranking is the only one of the reputable university rankings that ranks universities that deal with sports science.
- In part, it is about how we organize ourselves in Swedish sports research.
We have differences between Denmark, Norway and Sweden, but also money of course.
In Denmark and Norway, large sums have been invested in recent years, says Christine Dartsch Nilsson, director of the Center for Sports Research.
The latest ranking is topped by the University of Copenhagen.
Second on the list is the NIH in Oslo.
In addition, there is another Danish and a Finnish university in the top ten.
They are the best in Sweden
It is possible to question university rankings in general and certainly also the Shanghai rankings.
But the Swedish expertise is still consistent in its analyzes.
- It is based on objective indicators.
At the same time as one should not stare blindly at indicators, it says that we have lost.
Not least vis-à-vis our neighboring countries Denmark, Norway and Finland.
Mid Sweden University, where the National Winter Sports Center is located, and the University of Gothenburg are the best in Sweden.
They rank between 51st and 100th on the list.
This is more or less what it has looked like since the first ranking was published in 2016.
A large part of the funds for sports research in Sweden goes through the Center for Sports Research.
They receive part of the government's support for sports and distribute it to researchers around the country.
That sum is SEK 29 million this year.
The football doctor: "Need more niche research"
But much of sports research is funded elsewhere.
In some areas, Swedish research is also at the forefront.
Doctor Matilda Lundblad has, among other things, researched sports injuries on behalf of UEFA.
- In my dissertation, I looked at the most common knee injury in football.
In practice, it helps me a lot.
Because you get an average of two such injuries every season.
Then I have detailed knowledge of how to get these players back.
I benefit greatly from the research.
According to her, the biggest difference from our neighbors is organizational.
A problem that may be solved with more money.
- In Sweden, I think it would have been fantastic if the Riksdag could have been more generous with research grants and steer money into research.
If you talk about elite sports, you need more niche research on elite to understand the conditions that elite athletes have.
Christine Dartsch Nilsson, director of the Center for Sports Research agrees.
- First and foremost, it is about allocating more money to sports research, we must invest in the researchers who are talented and who want to be talented internationally.
Specifically on elite sports research and applied elite sports research.
SEE THE ENTIRE REPORT: Swedish sports research long after
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Swedish sports research long after the world top