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

2. 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

3. Helgi – the straight line
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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

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

8. 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

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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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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14. 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?

15. 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

16. 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

17. Thank you