Scientific research, climate change and sustainability Frederik has a special interest in scientific research, climate change, and sustainability. For his commitment to sustainability, he was interviewed by the
Financial Times and
CNN International's
Future Cities program. He participated in expeditions, forums and events on climate. The prince has represented Denmark as a promoter of sustainable Danish energy. The prince was one of the authors of the
Kongelig Polartokt (Polar Cruise Royal), about the challenges of climate, published in 2009 with a preface written by
Kofi Annan. In 2010, he wrote the
foreword to the highschool textbook
Naturen og klimaændringerne i Nordøstgrønland (Nature and climate change in
Northeast Greenland). He supports scientific research projects, as a patron, as expeditionary, with regular attendance at events and through his foundation,
Kronprins Frederiks Fond.
Sports and health The king encourages Danish participation in sports. He is a patron and honorary member of various sports organizations, and a former member of the
International Olympic Committee. He also promotes an active lifestyle in society. Frederik is an avid sportsman, running marathons in Copenhagen, New York, and Paris, and completing the 42 kilometers with a respectable time of 3 hours, 22 minutes and 50 seconds in the
Copenhagen Marathon. In 2013, he completed the KMD Ironman Copenhagen in the time of 10:45:32 and is the first royal person to complete an
Ironman. Frederik is a keen sailor, being an accomplished
Farr 40 and
International Dragon skipper. At the 2003
Dragon European Championship, where 51 boats participated, the Prince and his crew had been leading after four out of six races; they finished in fourth place. At the 2008
Farr 40 World Championship with 33 boats participating, Frederik and his crew also took fourth place. Helming the
Swan 60 yacht
Emma, he won its
IRC category in the 2010 Fyn Cup in Denmark, and was fourth in the 2011 Danish Dragon Championship with
Nanoq. 27 boats participated. In 2016, on the subject of the
Olympics in Rio, Frederik told the press that he did not regret not chasing his dream to compete in the Olympics after meeting his wife. He had always thought about training and competing, but that would have required him to limit his activities and concentrate on training, instead, he put his energy into other aspects of life. In October 2016, Frederik had to cancel his appearance at the royal reception for the
Danish Olympic and
Paralympic athletes after he fractured his spine while jumping on a trampoline with his eldest son. Frederik took part in the relay event during the
2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in
Aarhus in March 2019. Frederik has competed in
cross-country skiing; he skied the Swedish
Vasaloppet, the oldest cross-country ski race in the world, in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. In 2016, he completed the Norwegian
Birkebeinerrennet with Norway's
Crown Prince Haakon. Also in 2016, Frederik completed the in
Sisimiut, Greenland.
International Olympic Committee On 9 October 2009, Crown Prince Frederik was elected a member of the
International Olympic Committee, replacing former Danish member Kaj Holm, who had reached the age of retirement. The Crown Prince's candidature was met with some skepticism in Denmark, as it would mean that the Crown Prince would be on a semi-political committee along with several people who are suspected or even convicted of criminal acts. Another concern was whether or not the Crown Prince's loyalty would be towards his country and government, as the
Danish constitution prescribes, or with the
International Olympic Committee, as is sworn upon election to the committee. Frederik announced that his point of focus and reason for joining the International Olympic Committee is to promote an active lifestyle among youth. He was elected for an eight-year term, and made it clear that he would terminate his membership upon ascending the Danish throne. In 2012, Frederik carried the
Olympic flame through
Notting Hill, a neighbourhood in
West London. In 2016, Frederik faced criticism for voting against Danish
Minister for Culture Bertel Haarder and a majority in the
Danish Parliament's wishes on
the subject of whether or not Russia should be allowed to compete at the
2016 Summer Olympics following allegations of state-sponsored
doping. On 19 June 2017, the Crown Prince announced that he would continue another term of 8 years. However, in 2021, Frederik was announced that he would step down as an active member of the International Olympic Committee at the committee's annual session prior to the
2020 Summer Olympics, citing a wish to intensify his everyday work as the reason for stepping down in the middle of his term.
Royal Run In celebration of his 50th birthday, on 21 May 2018, Frederik initiated a public running event across five cities in Denmark called with more than 70,000 participants, including himself and his own family. The event was generally deemed as "exceeding expectations" by the public. The event has since become annual, and was continued in 2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023. The 2020 edition was cancelled due to the
COVID-19 situation in Denmark. The 2024 edition took place on 20 May in Copenhagen/
Frederiksberg,
Kalundborg,
Fredericia,
Aarhus, and
Brønderslev. The 2025 edition took place on 9 June 2025.
Expeditions The Crown Prince participated in an expedition to
Mongolia in 1986. In 2000, he participated in "Expedition Sirius 2000", a four-month and 2,795 km
dog-sled expedition in the northern part of Greenland. The expedition Sirius marked the 50-year anniversary of the
Sirius Patrol. Prince Frederik was part of the polar expedition as a film photographer, whose job was to ensure an optimal coverage of this event.
Social endeavours When younger, he was known to have pursued a life of fast cars and fast living, regularly seen frequenting nightclubs alongside celebrities. He played harmonica at a friend's rock concert, and was sighted at
Burning Man as late as 2014. ==Crown Prince Frederik's Foundation==