The pole jumper Freja Andersdotter wants to see more young people in the sports room room.
She has set a Swedish junior record of 4×100 meters twice and passed four meters in the rod. Freja Andersdotter has also reached high heights.
At 22 years old, she became chairman of her parent association, enriched KA 2 in Karlskrona. It became a short and challenging but also educational time at the heavy post before she was elected to the Swedish Athletics Association’s board.
At the National Sports Meeting in Gothenburg she argued for the motion written by the Swedish Riding Sports Association and where they want the National Sports Association (RF) and SISU Sports Educators to establish a forum at national level, where young people can have their voices heard.
Andersdotter points out that the sports movement largely consists of children and young people, but RF’s figures show that less than ten percent of those who sit as elected representatives are under 30 years. At the same time, a quarter of all young people say they are willing to get involved if they get the question.
– More and more children are quitting sports and it is important that the sports movement follows in time. It becomes a bit counterproductive if there are only older people and decide on children and young people, she says.
At the same time, she has Understanding that young people pull out to get involved. She believes that it may be because words such as board, nomination committee and agenda paint a picture of something that is formal and boring, but also that many young people believe that they need education and long experience to be involved and decide.
– But sometimes you may need those people who think outside the box, which young people tend to do. Today, young people are a force that is not fully utilized and then it is about inspiring and informing about what it is like to sit on a board, she says, explaining that the youth committees that have long existed within the Athletics Association and the equestrian association work very well.
Andersdotter took the first steps in the leadership career when she during the time at the athletics gymnasium in Malmö became a member of the athletics youth committee. When she later became its chairman, interest in the organizational side of the sport grew.
In both athletics and equestrian sports, members of the youth committees have places in the federal boards, which makes them involved in major decisions.
At the National Sports Meeting 2023 If a motion was approved by the equestrian association to strengthen the influence of children and young people in the democratic processes of children and young people and after a long investigative work, a wide range of measures were proposed. Athletics and equestrian sports wanted to go further and after modifying their motion and suggesting that RF-SISU set up a national youth meeting, both RS and rhyme were brought on their line.
The National Youth General Meeting will be integrated into RF-Sisu’s decision-making process, which Andersdotter considers important.
– The efforts proposed by the National Sports Board are superb, but one does not exclude the other. Making a cultural change also requires structure. Sometimes it can feel difficult to dare to take a seat when sitting with people who have a lot of experience and can give answers to speech and therefore it is good to have a forum where it is only young. It is also about RF and SISU to send an important signal to districts and associations that young people’s votes are important, says Andersdotter.
The restaurant manager from Karlskrona has put aside the active athletics career, but sees his future in the sports movement. Last year she met Swedish IOC member Petra Sörling, as well as chair of the International Table Tennis Association, and received tips and advice.
– Very inspiring, says Andersdotter.
