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The GIST: <\/strong>You\u2019ve probably seen the viral clips<\/a> of Norwegian skier Johannes H\u00f8sflot Klaebo<\/a> dominating the competition, but did you notice Norway is also running away with the medal count<\/a> at the Milano Cortina Olympics? The small country with a population of just 5.6M has already racked up a Games\u2013leading 28 medals, and 12 of them are gold.<\/p>\n \ud83c\udf89 Youth sports are centered around fun.<\/strong> Norwegians do not keep score<\/a>, mark time, or rank individuals or teams regardless of sport until kids reach at least age 13. This aligns with the national philosophy that emphasizes the \u201cjoy of sport for all<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude2e Norwegian kids are encouraged to play as many sports as possible. <\/strong>In North America, kids often specialize from a young age<\/a>. Compare that to Norway, where it\u2019s customary to compete in multiple sports through high school and even university, increasing kids\u2019 all-around athleticism and decreasing the risk of burnout before their bodies have fully developed.<\/p>\n \ud83d\ude4c Norwegian youth sports are accessible and affordable.<\/strong> The \u201cpay-to-play<\/a>\u201d model is pervasive across North America and creates prohibitive barriers to entry. In contrast, Norway\u2019s athletics have public funding<\/a>, not to mention a booming used equipment market<\/a> that makes even the most expensive sports, like skiing, more accessible.<\/p>\n\n
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