Pistorius: “Sport has an immense social function and importance – especially in times like these! That is why the state government supports organized sport in Nds. to deal with the consequences of the energy crisis with 30 million euros”
The Lower Saxony Minister of the Interior and Sport, Boris Pistorius, together with the Chairman of the Board of the Landessportbund Niedersachsen e. V. (LSB), Reinhard Rawe, gave the go-ahead for applying for grants to deal with the energy crisis. Sports clubs and state associations that are full members of the LSB, as well as sports associations that are sub-divisions of the LSB, can submit their applications to the LSB online via the activated funding portal.
Minister Pistorius says: “Sport has an immense social function and importance – especially in times like these! That is why the state government is supporting organized sport in Lower Saxony with 30 million euros in overcoming the consequences of the energy crisis. After the corona pandemic, the energy crisis is another enormous stress test for the associations and clubs. That’s why, starting with the energy summit I initiated last September, we engaged in intensive discussions with organized sport. As a result, we will support the sports structures in Lower Saxony with an additional 30 million euros as needed during the energy crisis. With the LSB funding portal, which was activated today, sports clubs and state associations can now also submit their applications online to the LSB – quickly and easily. In Lower Saxony, no sports hall should close and no athlete should have to take a cold shower.”
André Kwiatkowski, LSB President, says: “Our sports facilities are not just places for movement, but also for encounters. The closure of sports facilities after the corona pandemic due to high energy costs would not only have serious consequences for sport, but also for society. We are pleased that politicians are recognizing this role of sport and are offering financial support for the clubs together with us.”
Reinhard Rawe, LSB CEO, says: “The LSB supports up to 70 percent of increases in spending on all energy sources, but also the purchase of materials to save energy, measures for regenerative heat generation or advice on energy and lighting. From February, applications for the purchase of small materials to save energy will also be possible. We are very happy about the cooperative cooperation with the Ministry of Sports, so that we can keep the online application process very lean.”
The Lower Saxony state parliament had decided in November that the LSB would receive a one-time payment of 30 million euros for sport in 2023 as part of the Lower Saxony emergency program on the occasion of the energy crisis. In December 2022, the LSB Presidium passed the funding guideline for overcoming the effects of the energy crisis so that the application process can start in January.
Applications can be submitted from January 16, 2023 via the online funding portal on the LSB intranet (https://www.lsb-nds.net/).
The underlying LSB funding guideline is here (https://www.lsb-niedersachsen.de/themen/sport-und-vereinsentwicklung/sportstaettenbau/hilfen-in-der-energiekrise/foerderprogramm-energiekostenzuschuesse) available.
