Striking increases in electricity prices as early as September in Vienna and Lower Austria, massive price developments on the gas market and record inflation of currently 9.2 percent – the wave of inflation is also causing many sports clubs, hall operators and athletes themselves great concern.
Numerous appeals, such as from the Austrian Tennis Association (ÖTV), but also from Sport Austria and the local umbrella organizations, have reached politicians.
The ÖTV reported for the first time last June and recently, through President Martin Ohneberg, again insisted that sport must be included in the federal government’s planned measures.
Athletes worry about training opportunities
“There are currently numerous indoor tennis court operators who are considering whether to open at all in the fall due to the rising energy prices. We absolutely need to be able to plan for the coming threat as quickly as possible,” Ohneberg had demanded.
Other associations such as the Austrian Swimming Association (OSV) fear for the training opportunities of their athletes. For example, the federal training center in Südstadt, including the swimming pool, is heated with gas.
Will there be fewer escape light events in the future?
Floodlight systems, lawn heating, the production of ice rinks for ice hockey, ice skating and snow cannons in the ski areas – the list of cost-intensive necessities in sports, especially in the cold and dark season, is long.
“We are in concrete talks with the Ministry of Sports. We expect that we will have found a solution by the end of the month,” believes ÖTV Managing Director Thomas Schweda when asked by APA. In tennis alone there are 312 halls registered with the ÖTV, air domes are particularly expensive here.
OSV sports director Walter Bär pointed out that no pool is operated by the swimming association, but the topic is of course preoccupying. “I don’t know how it will continue.
A big concern is how the municipalities and municipalities will react – are they more sports-friendly or more frugal and on the safe side? It is clear that households, hospitals and schools have priority.” Bär also sees the problem that Austria’s pools, in contrast to other countries, are fundamentally overheated.
Fuel prices also affect team trips
Ice hockey record champion KAC has budgeted 300,000 euros in additional costs for the coming season due to the increased price level. According to manager Oliver Pilloni, the fuel prices for the many bus trips by several youth teams are particularly important. As a tenant, the club does not have to bear the energy-intensive operation of the ice rink itself. Of course, rent increases cannot be ruled out, says Pilloni.
He is particularly worried about the feared cost shifts in many areas on small clubs, fans and parents of young athletes who are already under pressure.
The sports and finance ministries have to find a solution
The second major sports policy issue is the special federal sports funding, which has not been increased for around ten years. The federal sports organization Sport Austria is also in contact with the sports and finance ministries in this regard. “In a working group, we have developed numerous proposals for a general strengthening of sport. With well-founded facts and well-known experts.
One thing is clear: in the fight against inflation, we need a rapid increase in sports funding and finally a valorization of funding. In talks with the Minister of Finance and Sport, we found a lot of understanding, so I hope that we can present a result here quickly after the summer,” said Sport Austria President Hans Niessl at the end of July.
“Time is pressing, because the rising costs are hitting our clubs and associations with full force!”
“120 million is minimum”
The presidents of ASKÖ, ASVÖ and Union, Hermann Krist, Christian Purrer and Peter McDonald had all blown the same horn. “We have to prevent a loss of quality due to rising inflation in sport,” said McDonald.
Krist called for an increase in funding from 80 to “at least 120 million” because the rumored increase to 100 million “would only compensate for the missing increases in value over the past ten years”.
That is why the Sport-Austria working group is demanding, among other things, a budgetary guarantee and expansion of special federal sports funding.
Solutions to continue indoor operations after two winters, which brought major restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, are particularly important for the local young athletes.
Textquelle: © APA to the top »
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