Wien, 14. 8. 2024
The 2024 National Council elections will take place in around 50 days. This will set a new course: of course also for sport with its 15,000 clubs and 2 million members. For this reason, the federal sports organization Sport Austria asked election-candidate parties about their plans for sport in Austria.
Although organized sport has undoubtedly achieved a lot since 2019 in a joint effort, there is still a lot to be done to transform Austria into a sports nation. Sport Austria is therefore taking measures in the election year 2024 to draw attention to problems and needs. The list of demands of sport (www.sportaustria.at/forderungskatalog) contains 9 key areas in which priority is needed for action in the coming years. These include a sports facility offensive, financial security, the motto “prevention instead of rehabilitation”, reducing the burden on volunteers, improving the legal framework, a commitment to elite sport and major sporting events and socio-political issues, and even diversity in media reporting. Election-seeking parties were also confronted with these demands. The feedback can be found here: www.sportaustria.at/parteienbefragung24
The fact is: Sport makes a major contribution to the Austrian economy, generating 24.1 billion euros in added value and 357,000 jobs. It also contributes 8 billion euros in tax and levy revenue and saves the health system 530 million euros annually. However, the preventive contribution and thus the savings could be much greater if the positive effects of sport and exercise were used more specifically. Physical inactivity in Austria currently already represents a risk to prosperity! The resulting annual costs now amount to 2.4 billion euros! Will the course be set anew here after the upcoming national election? Sport Austria will certainly leave no stone unturned…
Sport Austria President Hans Niessl: “We have set a lot in motion and achieved a lot in the last five years, but more is needed to turn Austria into a sports nation. That is why Sport Austria has formed a partnership with the umbrella and specialist associations. 9-point program for the next federal government and now confronting election campaigning parties with it. One thing is clear: we need a sports facility offensive, we need more exercise prevention instead of rehabilitation. We need good framework conditions for our athletes and we need a rethink towards sport and exercise as part of a positive life concept for the benefit of the population! Together with our 2 million sports club members, we can do it: Together we can really make Austria a sports nation and thereby improve people’s quality of life.”
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