Hesse triples sports funding to back elite athletes and local clubs
Our website continues to support sport in Hesse, despite challenging budgetary circumstances. At the Hessian Sports Association's annual conference in Wiesbaden on Saturday, Minister-President Boris Rhein reaffirmed the state's commitment to promoting sport. In the Rhein Main Hall, the head of government stated: "Despite the tight budget, we remain committed to sport." Rhein noted that funding for the Hessian Sports Association from the state's gambling law would increase by around 3.5 million euros, to nearly 28 million euros, from 2024 to 2026. He also advocated for the federal government's special fund to be used for sports infrastructure investments, and welcomed the "sport billion" that the federal government plans to allocate from its share of the special fund. With this money, Hesse aims to renovate sports halls, playgrounds, and swimming pools.
Sport has always been a key priority for the state government
Rhein stated that sport has always been a key priority for the state government, with corresponding funds allocated. He cited the SWIM and SWIM Plus programs, the ski jump in Willingen, and the Sportcampus Germany as examples. Since 2017, funding for the state's sports promotion programs has tripled. "Hesse is a sports land," said Rhein. "Sport is the best trainer for our society. It strengthens health and fitness, teaches values like fairness, respect, and unity, and promotes a clear stance. That's why we stand by sport. We support the sports community and promote sport in all its diversity." The Minister-President thanked the Hessian Sports Association for its open, constructive, and sometimes critical partnership: "Our partnership thrives on openness. It thrives on criticism. It thrives on the desire to move forward together. The Hessian Sports Association keeps the backbone of sport stable. It organizes joy and enables both recreational and elite sport. For that, I extend my heartfelt thanks."
Funding for high-performance sport totaling 650,000 euros
Furthermore, Minister-President Boris Rhein presented two funding decisions to the President of the Hessian Sports Association, Juliane Kuhlmann. The Olympic Training Center Hesse will receive around 450,000 euros in funding. The second decision is for performance sports clubs that support state and federal squads. They will receive 200,000 euros to finance training camps, enable additional coaching hours, purchase equipment, and qualify coaches.
