This is to be achieved through a newly created project via a newly created superordinate coordination office (“Sportgemeinde Österreich”). This should ensure the exchange and the ongoing flow of information and strengthen the sports community. “From Lake Neusiedl to Lake Constance there are over 2,000 communities and around 15,000 sports clubs. With sports community councils, the great partnership between the two levels could be expanded via new bridges and networks. The existing potential and synergies within the existing structures would be optimized and better used, ”says SPORTUNION President Peter McDonald.
With this initiative, the representation of interests and the position of sport are to be strengthened in the long term. According to McDonald, new interactions should also be created and thus the fitness and health of people in Austria should be improved.
According to the SPORTUNION, the sports community council initiative could better network organized sport and clubs with the federal government, the federal states and municipalities and strengthen existing connections at all levels. The contact point would be an interface between sport, politics, administration and the population. “Thanks to the local sports councils, new or ongoing exercise and health initiatives – such as ‘Bewegt im Park’ or Jackpot.fit – could be promoted more effectively. The project would thus reach new target groups more directly and more quickly.
This could – if the SPORTUNION has its way – Austria could create a moving win-win situation that would further develop the sport and club system as well as the municipalities in a positive political way. “Our next goal is to establish an initial pilot project for this in a federal state,” emphasizes McDonald, who would like to approach possible partners in this context.
The SPORTUNION also wants to promote the opening of the publicly financed school sports facilities to sports clubs with the local sports councils. In this context, the head of the association states: “Sports facilities instead of hospital beds should be Austria’s goal in order to create more healthy years of life.” ensure healthier development. With the new network, sport-political issues and sport initiatives in Austria are to be brought more to the fore. Austria’s around 15,000 sports clubs, which keep our country moving with their diverse range of sports, are to benefit from the project
