Festival of Democracy

At Vejle Sports School, we don’t just attend Folkemødet to listen to debates—we go there as a sports college. That is why we seek out conversations about sports, health, movement, and the sense of community that arises through physical activity.

We participate in debates on sports policy, listen to new perspectives on health, and gain insight into the role that movement and club life play in our society.

At the same time, we use Bornholm as our playground. We lace up our running shoes and make the beautiful trek to Opal Lake, where the brave can take the plunge from the cliffs into the clear water. We experience Hammershus in the evening sun—where nature, history, and culture merge—and we start the day with a refreshing morning dip and a bit of genuine wellness in the Baltic Sea.

For us, conversation and movement go hand in hand. Folkemødet is about challenging our minds, while Bornholm invites us to challenge our bodies. It is precisely this blend of debate, community, and activity that makes the trip so special.

Democracy is not something we can take for granted. It only comes alive when we engage, ask questions, and dare to be part of the conversation.

Getting involved isn’t about shouting the loudest—it’s about being curious, listening, and contributing. That is why we are making Folkemødet a regular part of the spring term at Vejle Sports School.

Folkemødet is Denmark’s largest gathering place for democracy, debate, and community. Every year, politicians, researchers, artists, athletes, organizations, entrepreneurs, businesses, and thousands of young people meet on Bornholm to share ideas, challenge one another, and gain new insights together. Here, major questions regarding our society and our shared future are discussed—and everyone is invited to join the conversation.

As a student, you are not merely a spectator. You curate your own schedule, choosing the debates, talks, concerts, and experiences that spark your curiosity. You can sit back and listen—or raise your hand and help shape the conversation.

We also participate in a range of debates that you can join. Vejle Sports Folk High School hosts debates in the Folk High School Tent and at “Ungdomshøjen” (Youth Hill), giving you the chance to be a young voice in a wide variety of discussions—if you have the courage to step up.

You might find yourself drawn to topics like climate change, sports and ethics, artificial intelligence, mental health, or entrepreneurship. You might strike up a conversation with a government minister, a journalist, an elite athlete, an activist, or an entrepreneur. The People’s Meeting (Folkemødet) makes room for both planned encounters and unexpected conversations.

Folkemødet is much more than a festival. It is an opportunity to experience democracy in action—to feel how dialogue, curiosity, and engagement create change. You return home with new knowledge, new perspectives, and the sense that your voice matters.

For democracy does not sustain itself; it lives when we choose to take part in it.