There is an acute shortage of halls in Sweden – but how the municipalities deal with the issue differs markedly.
To solve the crisis, the Swedish Sports Confederation’s future chairman wants to initiate new cooperation with Sweden’s municipalities and regions, SKR.
– Every fourth association cannot carry out the activities they want, says Anna Iwarsson acting chairman of the National Sports Confederation, RF.
According to the National Sports Confederation, there is a big difference in how the municipalities deal with the lack of halls – which means that children and young people do not get the opportunity to play sports to the extent they want.
Only one in three municipalities has a sports policy program and knows which sports surfaces are available today. And only half have a plan for which surfaces are needed in the future.
– What we are doing that is new is that we are expanding cooperation with SKR, says Iwarsson.
The shortage is greatest in the big cities
Stockholm is far behind in meeting the needs of an increasing sports-loving population. According to an analysis made by the city, until 2030 it is necessary to build: 21 artificial grass pitches, 27 sports halls, 7 ice rinks and 3 new swimming halls. At the same time, the need for modernization remains great throughout the country.
According to RF, half of Sweden’s associations say that the surfaces they play on need to be renovated.
– I see in front of me that we need to go into a major infrastructure reform together with business and politics. We also want to contribute to it in different ways so that we work smart in that work.