The canton of Vaud has drawn an initial assessment of its Sport-Santé program, launched in 2016 to support initiatives promoting physical activity among the population. Around 2.1 million francs have been allocated so far to support 192 projects.
The main part of this amount, i.e. 1.1 million francs, was devoted to aid for the construction or renovation of outdoor sports grounds. For this type of work, 41 municipalities have requested support from the canton, proof “of a real need”, noted State Councilor Philippe Leuba, Monday to the press.
Depending on the type of infrastructure (multisports grounds, fitness areas or other Finnish tracks), the financial contribution of the canton was between 15 and 25% of the total cost of the works.
Philippe Leuba stressed that these sports grounds, to benefit from cantonal aid, had to allow “unconstrained” practice. The facilities must therefore be free and freely accessible (at least from 09:00 to 20:00).
Handicap sport also supported
The canton has also distributed around 700,000 francs to 22 municipalities to contribute financially to the organization of sports activities. These include, for example, sports lessons for young people during the weekend. To be subsidized, these activities must notably be free of charge and be of long duration.
In addition to the municipalities, the Sport-Santé program is aimed at clubs, more particularly to encourage them to organize activities without the constraint of competition. “Young people who don’t have a competitive spirit should not be left out,” explained Philippe Leuba. Fourteen clubs have been helped by the canton (approximately 80,000 francs) for such projects.
The last axis of Sport-Santé concerns associations dealing with sports for the disabled: 8 projects have been supported so far, to the tune of 180,000 francs. The practice of sport is “tremendously beneficial” for these people, for their health and from a social point of view, remarked Eugène Campiche, president of the Association fair play sport handicap Lausanne.
Directions for the future
Also present in front of the press, Rebecca Ruiz recalled the many benefits of sport on physical and mental health. But also the dangers of a lack of physical activity, as the restrictions due to the pandemic have shown. “It is important to have an active policy in this area,” she said.
The head of the Department of Health and Social Action indicated that the canton wished to continue the Sport-Health program. If nothing concrete has yet been decided, Rebecca Ruiz estimated that the range of supported projects could expand in the future. She took the example of urban training, a practice that particularly allows women to be reached.
Asked about the amounts made available, Philippe Leuba estimated that Vaud was already doing a lot in intercantonal comparison, “even if we can always say that we could do more”. The minister in charge of the economy and sports added that the role of the canton should also be “incentive” by “federating” the maximum number of players around sport.
This article has been published automatically. Source: ats
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