More than 800 sports clubs in northern Germany have already applied for financial support from their federal states because of the increased energy costs. This was the result of a survey by the German Press Agency. Due to the size of the state and the scope of the funding package, by far the majority of them come from Lower Saxony.
According to the State Sports Association of Lower Saxony (LSB), by March 14, 767 sports clubs had already submitted applications for funding with a total volume of over 2,300,000 euros. 722 of the applications have already been approved by the LSB. A deduction of 60 percent of the amount approved was paid to 682 clubs.
“Our sports facilities are not only places for movement, but also for encounters. The closure of sports facilities due to the high energy costs would not only have serious consequences for sport, but also for society,” emphasized the chairman of the LSB, Reinhard Rawe.
In November, the Lower Saxony state parliament had already approved a one-off state funding program of 30 million euros for 2023. Since mid-January, sports clubs and associations in Lower Saxony have been able to apply for grants of up to 200,000 euros if their cost increases can be proven to be due to higher energy prices.
In Bremen there is a different procedure. There the clubs are subsidized after receipt of their annual accounts, which most clubs do not yet have. 18 clubs that were already affected by higher costs last year, for example because they heat with oil, have already been helped. They were paid a total of 158,000 euros, confirmed Bernd Schneider, spokesman for the Senator for Social Affairs, Youth, Integration and Sport. “The big chunk is yet to come, but sports clubs in Bremen always get subsidies for heating costs,” said Schneider.
Sports clubs in Schleswig-Holstein are also receiving financial support during the energy crisis. A total of nine million euros are available as energy aid. According to the Ministry of the Interior, only ten applications have been received so far. “We assume that the number will increase noticeably,” said spokesman Tim Radtke. “One application was approved for around EUR 26,400. Three applications had to be rejected due to a lack of liquidity.”
In Hamburg, the amount provided for energy aid is also nine million euros. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Sport, 32 applications from sports clubs have been received so far. All are still in progress. Hamburg had already decided on the support measures last autumn, but has since simplified the procedure for the clubs again.
Lower Saxony Energy Aid
