Authors

• Mäkelä, Pertti (University of Vaasa. Faculty of Social Sciences)

Keywords

contracting out, exercise (physical activity), local government services, municipalities, open spaces and recreational areas, public services, sports clubs, sports facilities

Abstract

The survey focused on the service provision, management and development policies of sports departments of Finnish municipalities. The respondents were heads of sports departments. Similar surveys were carried out in 1999 and 2002.

The respondents were asked what kind of activities and services the sport department provided, what kind of recreational areas and sports facilities and services there were in the municipality, which body organised them, and whether the municipality allocated funds for them. Further questions covered sports clubs and organisations, and sport services that the municipality had contracted out. One theme pertained to decision-making in the sports administration of the municipality. The respondents also asked about changes in the sport sector and development policies for the future.

Background variables included the respondent's gender, year of birth, job title or position, responsibility areas at work, work experience, education and whether R held any elected offices in the municipality.