From Wednesday until May 15, the Bavarian sports clubs can apply for a subsidy to reduce the increased energy costs. The Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, for Sport and Integration started a corresponding application process. “It is a strong signal that the Bavarian state government is sending to organized sport with the energy price subsidy. The closure of sports facilities and especially swimming pools would have massive consequences for the citizens of Bavaria,” said the President of the Bavarian State Sports Association (BLSV ), Jörg Ammon, in an association statement on Wednesday.
Overall, the Bavarian clubs got through the winter “reasonably well” despite the rise in energy and gas prices. However, the energy crisis is far from over, as the association had announced. “The unbureaucratic help in the form of the energy price subsidy makes a major contribution to the Bavarian clubs planning for the long term and being able to continue to provide a wide range of popular and competitive sports for everyone – children, young people, families, adults and seniors,” emphasized Ammon .
According to information from the association, the Free State is now providing 18 million euros for sports clubs with the energy price subsidy. “It grants this – in addition to the club allowance, which has already been doubled for the second time from 20 to 40 million euros – to all Bavarian sports clubs that have applied for the club allowance for 2023,” it said. Not only the expenses of the sports facilities themselves are eligible for funding, but also adjacent infrastructure that is part of the sports operation, such as changing rooms or spectator facilities.