Minister of Culture and Sports Amanda Lind held a digital press conference on Tuesday morning.
There, the Minister presented next year's budget for cultural and sports life.
- The government proposes in the budget SEK 400 million for Swedish sports next year to facilitate the start-up after the pandemic and increase participation in sports for children, for young people and for people with disabilities, Lind says.
"Do not go out with health debt"
Amanda Lind then continues and emphasizes the importance of sports in Sweden, not least for our children and young people.
- Coaches and leaders throughout the country have worked hard to keep operations going.
It has made a big difference and it has been especially important for children and young people's opportunity for as far as possible a normal everyday life during the pandemic.
- We should not go out of the pandemic with a health debt to our younger generations.
Here we must give sports the tools they need to be able to engage more children and young people after the pandemic, says Amanda Lind.
Want to reach children and young people again
In total, it is about close to four billion kronor the sport received in support during the pandemic.
- This means that during the pandemic, the government has provided sports with a total of SEK 3.8 billion in support, and this is something that has enabled sports associations and federations to survive. My hope with this start-up support is that associations around the country now get an opportunity and extra strength that will be required to reach and engage more people again, says Lind.