National Level
The national sports systems in Europe are basically similar in their structure and as such characterized by the so-called “pyramid model”. Sport in EU Member States is practiced in equal measure in sport clubs – approximately 700.000 in the countries of the European Union – and as “leisure sport” in a non-organized recreational way.
The sport clubs represent the fundamental level of the sport pyramidal model. They belong to regional sports federations, which are, for their part, organised in national federations. The national federations are affiliated to European federations, over which there are the International Federations.
Another characteristic trait of Sport in Europe is the “open league system” of “promotion and relegation”, whereby every sport club is allowed to participate without any extra charges, while in the United States, for example, sport clubs are obliged to acquire licences for participation in sport leagues. Accordingly, European sport clubs have the possibility to go from the regional league level to the European Championships of their specific sport.
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- For further information: http://www.sport-in-europe.eu/