We can learn from Norway

Americans could learn much from a small Scandinavian country with a population of just 5 million about competitiveness and success. Norway has been winning in winter and summer sports competitions yet they are not a competitive place.  n the 2018 winter Olympics Norway dominated in medal winning. They won more medals than any country ever has. They won a record 39 medals beating America's record.  How did this small country beat out America, Russia and China? 

They live in the coldest part of the earth close to the North Pole and have a population as large as Minnesota. That's it! 

Norway produced the best women's soccer player and  the best beach volley ball player. How did they inspire such success in sports? They do it by being the direct opposite of Americans. They have a view that even children are professionals with detailed tournaments. They train like sports heroes. Just look at some of these kids on You Tube and you will be amazed. Yet they let kids be kids even with a Bill of Rights that is the only kind in the world. Their sports clubs must keep costs at a reasonable level. All children must be included in the sport. They stress friendship and well-being more than competition.  They believe that young athletes will never blossom unless they are having fun.

In America kids are in tears if they don't win. Parents curse out players, referees and coaches. Violence breaks out in the stands. In Norway they don't even keep score between the ages of 6-12 years old and they don't rank kids. The Norwegian way seems very soft , liberal and right. America is all about blood, sweat and tears. America is about instilling that the world is all about winners and losers and kids need to learn that at a young age. Clearly it is making Americans the ultimate losers. Sports should be a safe fun environment and not hostile. They play games and remember that!

A lot of our kids arrive on college campuses already burnt out and broken down from the pressure. Norway's strategy is that if they are all having fun they will return to the sport and the bloomers in excellence will stand out from the rest. 

In America by 6 years old the coaches are picking out who they think will be excellent. In Norway everyone feels special at that age because you really never know when a kid will be inspired to be the best. Most of the Norwegian winners in the 2018 Olympics were not stand out athletes as children. It costs a family just $60 for 6 months of skiing fun and all the kids know how to ski and ski happily with no stress or drama. The kids do fun drills around cones and organized games on the slopes. There are volunteer coaches everywhere to help them along. No expensive private ski lesson for an elitist few. 

We all know that if a kid is not having fun they will stop. America could use a low pressure environment and a all inclusive approach to everything and maybe then we could be a happier nation too. Norway is one of the healthiest and most joyful countries in the world. They rank in the top 4 everywhere in the United Nations World Happiness Report fr many years. Once the teen makes the sports choice then they are treated like professional athletes with every service and training specialist working with them for free. The govt. there pays for it all with taxes on sports gambling. They encourage gambling with even a sports betting show to help citizens pick winners. ^4% funds all sports and recreation in Norway. We have nothing like that here in America. 

We need America to be pro-choice in many aspects of our thoughts.