The DIF says the purpose of compiling the data is to provide an overview of how influential Danish sporting leaders are internationally and to strengthen the DIF's position when engaging in the international debate on European sports.

It also says it wants to identify which nations have the greatest sports political power and increase cooperation with them.

The index has used two sets of criteria to set out a ranking in European terms - representation on both European and International Federations; while on global terms the rankings are weighted by representation in International Federations only.

It concludes that Italy is the most influential country in terms of Europe followed by Great Britain and Germany while globally, the United States wields the most influence followed again by Britain with France in third.

Denmark itself is ranked 13th on the European index while it comes 36th on the global measurement.

The data is based on a calculation of the make-up of 1,631 members from Executive Committees of the 118 most important international sports federations as of September 2013.

These include international and European federations representing an Olympic sport as well as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), European Olympic Committees, Association of National Olympic Committees and the Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations.

Dane Poul-Erik Høyer is the President of the Badminton World Federation
©AFP/Getty Images



The criterion for the selection of members is their entitlement to vote, resulting in 1,631 individuals.

Each individual has been given a weighting of between one and 10, indicating the political power of their membership in each Executive Committee.

Members of International Federations were given a higher weighting than those who were just a member of a European Federation alone.

Denmark emerges with a total of 83 points on the index and has 26 positions of influence in International Federations, chief among these being Badminton World Federation President Poul-Erik Høyer and Crown Prince Frederik, who has been a member of the IOC since 2009.

Denmark also has three members of Olympic International Federations, one President of a European Olympic Federation, nine members of Olympic European Federations, one President of a non-Olympic International Federation, four members of non-Olympic International Federations, five members of non-Olympic European Federations and one member of UEFA, Allan Hansen.

In making comparisons with countries of similar population size and sports structure and culture, the report concludes that the DIF could learn from countries such as Belgium, The Netherlands and New Zealand, while also seek greater cooperation with its Scandinavian neighbours Norway and Sweden.

To view the original Global Sports Political Power Index published in November 2013, click here.

To download the original report appendix, click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]