Franco highlights the territorialisation of EUR 102 million of European funds between the autonomous communities

The Secretary of State for Sport has broken down the lines of the action of the Higher Sports Council in this year 2022 and the main advances in the territorial distribution of the European Funds of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan

In this sense, he recalled the three strategic axes to which these funds will be destined: the digitalization of the sports ecosystem, the ecological transition of the facilities, and Social Plan focused on the development of equality plans

He has also highlighted the legislative impulse that is being carried out by his department with the processing of the Project of the new Sports Law, the approval of the Organic Law of Fight against Doping, and the Royal Decree of High Level Athletes (DAN)

In addition, it has influenced the implementation of the Team Spain programs aimed at improving the preparation of athletes who will compete in the Olympic and Paralympic Games of Paris 2024, as well as the equality policies developed by the CSD

Madrid, 08 de November 2022. The Secretary of State for Sport, José Manuel Franco, appeared today in the Committee on Culture and Sport of the Congress of Deputies to explain the actions carried out by his department throughout this year, as well as the main advances in the territorial distribution of the European Funds of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, which already reach 102 million euros.

During his speech, Franco explained that a total of 128 million euros have already been awarded among the Autonomous Communities from these Funds aimed at improving the Spanish sports system, which represents 43% of the total of these items. “A clear sign of our commitment to territorial cohesion, the backbone of our sports policies,” said the president of the Higher Sports Council.

Thus, he explained that the funds are being distributed among the three strategic axes marked by the Government: the digitization of the sports ecosystem, which has a budget of 9 million euros; the ecological transition with the improvement of the sustainability and energy efficiency of sports facilities, especially the High Performance Centers (CAR), which will be endowed with 75 million euros; and the Social Plan focused on the development of plans for equality, training and visibility of women’s sport and which will have about 18 million.
As for the global budget of the CSD for the year 2023, he recalled that it amounts to 375 million euros, which means a new budget year. In this regard, he recalled that the Government’s commitment was to allocate EUR 1 billion throughout the legislature, a figure that, if the budget for next year is taken into account, already amounts to EUR 1,149 million.

From this budget, it has valued multiannual aid to the sports federations. It is a EUR 187 million item for 2022, 2023, 2024 that aims to ensure its economic stability and the continuity of its sports programmes throughout the Olympic and Paralympic cycle that will culminate in Paris 2024.

Legislative impulse

On the other hand, Franco has highlighted the ambitious legislative renewal that is being carried out in the Spanish sports field, with special reference to the development of the Project of the new Sports Law. The text, which is in the final phase of its processing, involves the modernization of the Spanish sports system with the recognition of sports activity as a right, the promotion of the presence of women in the sector and the regulation of the figure of the athlete and sports entities.

In addition, he recalled that this year the new Organic Law on the Fight against Doping and the Royal Decree of High Level Sportspeople (DAN) have already entered into force, and that work is being done on the new legislation on the management of sports professions.

Programs Team Spain

The Secretary of State for Sport has also highlighted the promotion of Team Spain’s programmes aimed at improving the preparation and performance of Spanish sportsmen and women who are going to participate in the next Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris 2024 and thus facilitating the improvement of the results obtained in Barcelona’92. To this end, Franco recalled that EUR 16 million will be allocated in aid to the Sports Federations throughout 2022 and a total of 48 for the remainder of the Olympic cycle. The new preparation programs are divided into two blocks: Team Spain Elite, aimed at Spanish athletes and teams with the possibility of obtaining a place among the top eight in the next JJOO and a podium in the JJPP. And, on the other hand, Team Spain Strategic Interest is aimed at athletes who guarantee continuity in Spanish successes in non-Olympic specialties, but of great importance in the projection of the image of Spain in the world, such as motorcycling or motorsport, among others. More than 400 athletes will benefit from these programs.

Equality

On the other hand, the president of the CSD has highlighted the “unwavering commitment” of the Government in the field of Equality. In this regard, he recalled the commitment to the professionalization of the Women’s First Division of football “an enormously relevant milestone for the sport of our country, which undoubtedly marks the beginning of a new era in Spanish sport.”
To achieve this, he recalled the investments that have been made by the Executive with more than 16 million euros to improve the infrastructures of the clubs belonging to this category and the commitment to support the League with up to 15 million euros in three seasons.

In addition, he has explained other actions aimed at promoting equality in the sports field, such as promoting professionalism through the Women’s Universe Programme; facilitating conciliation thanks to social aid for women athletes; or the promotion of real and effective equality between women and men with the launch of the Observatory on Equality in Sport.