About Pan Idræt
Pan Idræt is more than just a sports association; it is a dynamic community where diversity is a strength and where each member's unique story contributes to a stronger unity. With over 2000 members and a wealth of activities, we span everything from football and swimming to yoga and dance, all with a focus on inclusion and socializing. We cherish the safe space where both beginners and experienced athletes can develop their potential, and where friendships across sports create lifelong bonds.
Who are we?
Pan Idræt is the collective term for two multi-disciplinary sports clubs (Pan Idræt Copenhagen and Pan Idræt Frederiksberg) with over 25 different sports and activities. We are thus all over the capital and together we count over 2000 members.
We focus on creating an inclusive and safe space for sporting ambitions and strong social relationships - and we know from our members that we are experts in this. We are also proud that others agree with this - our membership numbers are increasing with approx. 4% per year.
How are we structured?
Pan Idræt is expanding its organizational structure with the newly established federation level: Pan Sports Denmark, which aims to create nationwide coordination and support for rainbow sports communities in several cities.
Club level, also known as Pan Sports Capital, constitutes the original club structure based in Copenhagen.
Club level forms the basis for the entire association and ensures common direction and visions across all sports. Here, the overall decisions and management tasks are handled, such as strategic development, finance, administration, and collaboration with external partners such as sponsors and interest organizations. The board, elected by the members at the annual general meeting, is at the head of the club and works together with a number of committees to ensure a solid foundation for the association and the cross-cutting initiatives, including events such as Pan Galla, Rainbow Sport Film Festival, Rainbow Sports Square and participation in Copenhagen Pride, EuroGames and DGI National Convention, etc.
The departments function as organizational units under the club (Pan Idræt Hovedstaden), each representing a specific sport or activity, such as swimming, football, badminton, dance or newer initiatives such as gaming and pickleball. Each department is led by a department management, who is responsible for planning activities, social events, managing budgets within the department's framework, and coordinating coaches and other volunteers. The departments ensure that sports are delivered at a high level and adapted to the wishes and needs of the members. Their responsibilities also include ongoing contact with the club's board and cooperation across departments to maintain Pan Idræt's shared values of diversity and inclusion.
The teams is the smallest organizational unit and consists of the specific training and activity groups that members participate in – many departments in Pan Idræt have only one team, but some have several. Each team typically has one or more coaches or instructors who are responsible for organizing the training, creating a good team spirit, and ensuring a positive experience for the participants. The teams can vary in level and purpose – some focus on exercise and community, while others focus more on competition. The teams meet regularly and are the place where the members’ daily experience of Pan Idræt takes place.
This division into clubs, departments and teams makes it possible for Pan Idræt to operate as one unified association, but at the same time gives each sport the opportunity to develop and create its own communities under the association's overall framework and values.
What is our purpose?
Pan Idræt's first purpose was to create a free space for gays and lesbians where they could practice sports - unfortunately, back in 1984 there was not much understanding of homosexuals in sports. The first department in Pan Idræt to be founded was the swimming department (today Copenhagen Mermates), as gays were not welcome in the "ordinary swimming clubs".
Fortunately, that kind of attitude is a thing of the past in many places today.
However, this has not meant that people choose Pan Idræt - on the contrary, the association has grown continuously since it broke away from the National Association for Gays and Lesbians (today LGBT+ Denmark).
We are not focused on elite sports - although we have many ambitious athletes with a desire to win medals. The basis for our sports is the community, and as a participant in the individual sports you find your own level. We have some very ambitious departments with teams divided into levels.
If you want to know more about our history - click on the button below.
