Thanks to the government, financial suffering has been reduced through NPO funds – football president on vaccination: “We’re not screaming hooray now” – normalization only in 2022
Sport-Austria-Vice-President Michael Eschlböck gives the government a good report in terms of pandemic aid for sport. “At the end of the day, all of our wishes were largely taken into account,” said the President of the Football Association (AFBÖ). The prospects for sport for 2021 are very promising, although you shouldn’t have exaggerated expectations when it comes to vaccination: “We’re not shouting hurray as soon as the vaccine is available.”
Organized sport had largely got through the pandemic well. “I have to thank everyone involved. At the end of the day it worked really well, even if it took a long time to get that far,” reported Eschlböck, who started numerous discussions with Sports Minister Werner Kogler (Greens ) and his team. Hans Niessl, the president of the federal sports organization Sport Austria, was also involved.
“We said we needed our own fund for sport, then it became one for the non-profit sector,” said Eschlböck. In American football, no clubs have run into dire financial difficulties so far. “We didn’t hear any cries for help,” said the TV commentator at PULS 4. “You really have to say that good provisions have been made, and where damage has occurred, the NPO fund has largely absorbed it.” The money was also transferred quickly, he emphasized.
Football is de facto an amateur sport in Austria, so the clubs do not have to pay player salaries. There were also cost savings in 2020 because the leagues stood still. The Football Association made it up to its member clubs whether they want to contest or suspend the season. Almost everyone chose the second option, the top division mutating into a duel between the final champions Vienna Vikings and the Graz Giants. These two would have “submitted immediately and had the funds transferred without any problems”.
As far as he could see the situation, top-class sport was generally immersed safely through the crisis. Where there are occasional financial difficulties, “it should not be solely due to the pandemic”. It is really difficult for mass sport, especially with the youngsters, the cuts are painful. Group training for children has been banned for some time. In general, active sport among Austrians has decreased, a study recently presented by Sport Austria showed.
Another factor of uncertainty is the influence of vaccinations. At a press conference, Niessl recently called for a vaccination strategy for grassroots and professional sports, Eschlböck was more reserved: “We don’t say that everything is good as soon as the vaccine is available, because there are still a bunch of unanswered questions.” His football association will not tell anyone to get vaccinated. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will not oblige its athletes to do so either. “That means that all other international sports associations will follow suit.”
In addition, athletes would probably not be able to be vaccinated until later in the year, when most of the competitions have long been running. Eschlböck’s conclusion: “The precautionary measures will probably accompany us in an undiminished manner throughout 2021. We do not expect normalization until 2022.” The outlook is by no means bad.
Because the support of non-profit associations by the NPO fund will continue in 2021 – at least the first quarter. In addition to sports clubs, cultural associations or recognized religious communities are eligible. Another bright spot for sport is the government’s announcement that it will reopen sporting events to spectators if they can show negative tests. And when testing players and club staff, politicians have at least given the prospect of cost sharing, said Eschlböck.
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