Crossing Borders in the Nordic Region Massive theme What are the challenges?

So why would you leave? Primary reasons Secondary Reasons Better facilities Better coaches Higher level of competition Secondary Reasons Chance Stagnation Hunt for Glory Tertiary Reasons Education Work Relationships

Helgi – the straight line 0 6 10 15 17 21 25 30 Faroe Islands DEN FAR Denmark Gymnastics Gymnastics Handball Handball Swimming Gymnastics … 1000 other things Progression When looking from the outside, everything can look like a straight line Kindergarten Shcool Border School High School University

Is there a straight line? Growing up into your sport in safe environment Finding your place Being part of a community Being among the best Given a chance by national coach

Too good chance to miss The change into the competitive machine and the challenges Superb facilities, coaches and level No longer the best Not just easy: Change from the sports being something to gather around to sport succes being the fulcrum Different culture Broken leg

There are no straight lines 0-6 10-15 17-21 25 **Point 1: No straight lines -> even with circumstances as good as mine Second father in my coach Good club with respect for the people behind the very elite troupe I was part of Housing possibilities and school via Team Danmark Ups and downs balanced by education No one expected anything from me but everyone was extremely proud of what I did and I got appreciation -> before social media! All in all a story of success! There are no straight lines

Icelandic Powerhouse ** Point 2: Facilities and level of competition is not enough if basic needs are not met

By chance and the smile of fortune, some would say, or by hard work and seeking his oppurtunities, I would say He made a pro agreement Unique chance He made the ”necessary” decisions Moved to Holland Extreme competitiveness Difficult social structure Alone I need to make a change

When everything you value fails! Challenge too owerwhelming Redecide to move to a place with better social structure

His coach said ”why, when we finally got him further south?” Because social safety and structure means more We are human and will not perform if the basics are not covered Maybe even more so when coming from small societies as we do Tutoring or friendship

The safety network around the athlete may mean the same or more than facilities per se It comes down to having reason and means to handle the bad days

Staying at Home Safety Appraisal ** Point 3: Staying at home could be the optimal solution because of support and appraisal A random meeting at a doping test when Pál had to figure out what to do I advised him to stay at home The sum of the cost benefit simply did not seem to favor moving Great coach, great surroundings, extreme support and appraisal

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Ultimate appraisal? Ultimate Win-Win? Video: Difficult circumstances I disagree Besides the level of competitiveness, everything else is pretty ideal Enormous support -> 40 hours a week training besides going full time to school? Extreme appraisal - who else has had the president showering your airplane with watercannons and the local community building a pool for you? Win win because so much is given back to the community and future swimmers and Pál was given great chances Pál finally moved abroad and from the outside it looks as he experienced much of the same challenges as the rest of us Ultimate Win-Win?

What can we do? Can we help or prepare the athletes for the challenges ahead of them? Help with practical issues Food, shelter, love Advisors, camps, tutors? Friendships clubs and networking as intergral part of how small societies prepare children for a future in sports? Appraisal Let the athletes know that they matter Let them be embassadors Shower their airplanes with water cannons

Perspectives What is talent? Can we make the will to work matter more than the fear to fail? Individual sports vs. Team sports Professionals vs. Amateurs Social media and the speed of things We should look at professionals and amateurs in the same lieu, they are in the end representing the best we have just being financed from either private or public sectors

Thank you