Finnish Local Government 2004: Sports Services 2002

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 1996 and 1999. 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. Use of contracted-out services, and decision-making in the sports administration were studied. One topic pertained to ownership of sports facilities: whether the municipality owns or rents them. Views were probed on the impact of certain bodies (e.g. municipal council, municipal board, service users, sports clubs) on the sports services. The respondents were also asked how important various duties and responsibilities were in their position as the head of the sports department, and what had changed in the sports sector since 1998. State of the sports sector at the time of the survey, and development policies for the future were surveyed. Background variables included the respondent's gender, year of birth, job title or position, responsibility areas at work, work experience, and education.