Sport Austria’s 6-point programme

In view of the sharply rising number of positive Covid-19 tests, the Federal Government announced further measures to combat the coronavirus on Saturday. Measures that will also severely restrict sport and exercise in the near future, especially indoor and contact sports. Sport Austria President Hans Niessl therefore informed the sporting community by means of an open letter. "We are now faced with the paradoxical situation that a health crisis is being tackled, among other things, by slowing down Austria’s ultimate health engine: organised club sport. I would therefore like to reiterate that, thanks to sound concepts, participation in sport has not led to any problematic cluster formations."

In light of this new situation, Sport Austria, as the representative body for Austrian sport, is calling, among other things, for the implementation of a comprehensive six-point package. Niessl: "With this 6-point programme, we have the opportunity to guide our clubs through this crisis, which is now intensifying once again, and to preserve Austria’s diverse sporting culture. Every individual club has enormous socio-political value for children, young people and adults. Whether for health, personal development, integration or the economy. Our 15.000 sports clubs, with their 576.000 volunteers and 2,1 million members, are a systemically important factor – and one of significance to the national economy. To lose even some of them would be disastrous in many respects. Supporting sport, especially during a crisis, is therefore not an end in itself, but a means to an end!"

6-point programme
To guide grassroots and amateur sports clubs through the crisis, the Federal Government’s support for clubs (the "NPO Support Fund") must continue for as long as the virus restricts sporting activities.

Clubs must also be compensated for actual revenue losses during the period of severe restrictions.

In "professional league operations", clubs must likewise be compensated for actual revenue losses, for as long as they have to comply with spectator and catering restrictions.

The costs of coronavirus tests must also be covered in the sporting sector. In addition, approval is needed for the use of rapid antigen tests in sport.

For the period after the crisis, the government must introduce a joint activation programme for organised sport.

The resumption of sporting activities must follow a structured and predictable plan with appropriate prospects. Our 15.000 sports clubs need planning certainty when sport resumes.

Further information on the coronavirus, as well as questions and answers, can be found on the following website: https://www.sportaustria.at/corona.