Kampforbundet for Rød Sportsenhet
Encyclopedia
Kampforbundet for Rød Sportsenhet ('Struggle League for Red Sports Unity') was a sport
ing organization in Norway
. It was colloquially known as Rød sport. It was founded by the Communist Party of Norway
in 1931, in reaction to the decision of the Arbeidernes Idrettsforbund
(AIF, 'Workers Sports League') to leave the Red Sports International (Sportintern). The organization was re-unified with AIF in 1934, as a result of negotiations between AIF and Sportintern in Moscow
. During its peak, Rød sport had around 4,000-5,000 members.
and Communist Party had cohabited in the sporting movement after the two parties split in 1923. However, at its national conference in May 1931 AIF decided to withdraw from Sportintern, in response to an ultimatum from Sportintern to break all links to the Labour Party.
The communists reacted by founding Kampforbundet for Rød Sportsenhet at a meeting at the facilities of the sports club SK Sleipner in Oslo
, in late May 1931. The former AIF chairman Oskar Hansen was elected as chairman of the new organization. The organization proclaimed to work for unity between AIF and Sportintern.
A debate emerged at the founding meeting, whether Workers' Defense Corps should be formed within the framework of the organization. This proposal was supported by the Communist Party chairman Henry W. Kristiansen. However, the conference decided not to form paramilitary units, stating that such groups should have a separate organization of their own.
line. AIF existed until 1940.
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
ing organization in Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
. It was colloquially known as Rød sport. It was founded by the Communist Party of Norway
Communist Party of Norway
The Communist Party of Norway is a political party in Norway without parliamentary representation. It was formed in 1923, following a split in the Norwegian Labour Party. The party played an important role in the resistance to German occupation during the Second World War, and experienced a brief...
in 1931, in reaction to the decision of the Arbeidernes Idrettsforbund
Arbeidernes Idrettsforbund
Arbeidernes Idrettsforbund was a sporting organization in Norway between 1924 and 1946. As of 1935, AIF had around 50,000 members. AIF published the magazine Arbeideridrett.-Foundation and early growth:...
(AIF, 'Workers Sports League') to leave the Red Sports International (Sportintern). The organization was re-unified with AIF in 1934, as a result of negotiations between AIF and Sportintern in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. During its peak, Rød sport had around 4,000-5,000 members.
Split in AIF
In Norway, the followers of the Norwegian Labour PartyNorwegian Labour Party
The Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Norway. It is the senior partner in the current Norwegian government as part of the Red-Green Coalition, and its leader, Jens Stoltenberg, is the current Prime Minister of Norway....
and Communist Party had cohabited in the sporting movement after the two parties split in 1923. However, at its national conference in May 1931 AIF decided to withdraw from Sportintern, in response to an ultimatum from Sportintern to break all links to the Labour Party.
The communists reacted by founding Kampforbundet for Rød Sportsenhet at a meeting at the facilities of the sports club SK Sleipner in Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
, in late May 1931. The former AIF chairman Oskar Hansen was elected as chairman of the new organization. The organization proclaimed to work for unity between AIF and Sportintern.
A debate emerged at the founding meeting, whether Workers' Defense Corps should be formed within the framework of the organization. This proposal was supported by the Communist Party chairman Henry W. Kristiansen. However, the conference decided not to form paramilitary units, stating that such groups should have a separate organization of their own.
First olive branch
In 1933, the organization made an offer to the (much larger) AIF to cooperate with the logistics surrounding the reception of a Soviet sports' team. In April and May 1933, a new round of negotiations between AIF and Rød sport took place. The two agreed that AIF would allow the re-entry of expelled Rød sport clubs into AIF whilst Rød sport agreed to accept the cooperation between AIF and the Norwegian Trade Union Confederation. However, they could not agree no the issue of links to the Labour Party. Following internal conslutations and recommendations from the Communist Party and Sportintern, the agreement that the Rød sport negotiating team had accepted was rejected.Invitation of Soviet boxers
A new round of negotiations and disputes took place in the preparations of a visit of Soviet boxers. Rød sport demanded that half of the earnings of the ticket sales should go to supporting the workers' sports movement in Germany, whilst AIF wanted earnings to go to a Labour Party-controlled fund for political refugees. Negotiations broke down, and in the end the Soviet boxing team only participated in events organized by Rød sport.Reunification
In 1934, reunification with AIF was finally achieved, following meetings between AIF and Soviet sport authorities in Moscow. The reunification can be seen as an early expression of the popular frontPopular front
A popular front is a broad coalition of different political groupings, often made up of leftists and centrists. Being very broad, they can sometimes include centrist and liberal forces as well as socialist and communist groups...
line. AIF existed until 1940.