Luxembourg Sport Policy Expenditure Set to Increase to €66m in 2025

On Monday 14 October 2024, Luxembourg's Minister of Sport, Georges Mischo, presented the national sports policy measures for the financial year 2025.

As reported by Luxembourg's Ministry of Sport, current expenditure is set to increase from around €41 million in the budget voted in 2023 to €66 million planned for the 2025 budget, representing an increase of about 60% in two years.

To maximise the impact of this investment, the ministry said it was actively working on several concrete avenues aimed at strengthening the organisational capacities of sports federations. These initiatives are expected to ensure that increased resources translate into tangible benefits for athletes, coaches and sports enthusiasts across the country.

For example, in 2025, subsidies for staff and operating costs for the Luxembourg Olympic and Sporting Committee (COSL) and sports federations will be increased to €13.6 million (up 88% compared to 2023). The ministry said this increase underlines a commitment to long-term planning, particularly due to new roles and recruitment within sports federations.

In addition, the multi-annual budget provides for an increase of €2 million for 2026, to support long-term planning.

Investment in supporting and promoting young talents and high-level athletes will also increase, from €1.45 million in 2023 to €3 million in 2025 (up 107%).

In terms of staff, "significant" progress has been made regarding subsidies for administrative and technical staff. Two main areas have been addressed. Firstly, some federations will benefit from increased support for additional positions, thus strengthening their teams. Secondly, subsidies for staff will now be linked to the seniority and qualifications of employees.

The ministry added that continuing training for coaches and professional staff is essential to guarantee high-quality services to athletes. Support will be structured around three concrete areas:

- the INAPS sports institute is expanding its services and training;

- a BTS in sports management and sports coaching is being planned, together with the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth and the Ministry of Research and Higher Education, to strengthen qualifications in these areas;

- a revision of the Labour Code is underway, in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and COSL, to clarify the status of athletes, coaches and technical and administrative executives, allow Sunday work and eliminate uncertainties related to employment contracts.

Moreover, in line with the government coalition agreement, the Ministry of Sport is set to increase its contribution to the salary costs of a sports coordinator from €206,610 in 2023 to €1,045,000 in 2025 (up 406%).

In this context, information sessions are being organised on Tuesday 19 and Thursday 21 November 2024 in collaboration with Syvicol.

At the same time, the ministry has set up a project dedicated to the development of physical activity and sports at the municipal level, which aims to establish a close and structured collaboration.

The ministry added that it is adopting a proactive approach to the development of national sports infrastructure. This approach will also be communicated during this legislature in the form of a national plan for the development of sports infrastructure and will be reflected in the thirteenth five-year national sports equipment programme.

The aim is to provide local clubs and associations with high-quality facilities and sites, which promote social cohesion and health in the municipalities by allowing everyone to practise their sport and physical activity in their municipality or region.

As provided for in the coalition agreement, the ministry said it was working on the creation of a structure to centralise the management of all national sports infrastructures (AINS).

The ministry also recalled the importance of volunteering, noting that it was necessary to give all stakeholders the opportunity to continue training and to support them in this process.

An action plan (Gamechangers - For strong volunteering in sport), aimed at raising awareness, promoting and valuing volunteering, was launched in June 2024.

The aim is to enable clubs and federations to develop in a way that strengthens the societal role of sport, thus promoting a positive impact on the community. By investing in quality and volunteering, the ministry said it aims to make sport a vector of engagement and social cohesion.

"It is essential for us to strengthen the organisational capacities of federations and clubs. This exercise is part of a process that we call organisational development, where all these tools interact to sustainably strengthen the Luxembourg sports movement and its stakeholders," concluded Minister Mischo.