Flemish sports clubs lack infrastructure

A survey by the Flemish Sports Federation, the umbrella organisation of sports federations, shows that Flemish sports clubs cannot keep up with the increasing number of members. Four in ten clubs (39 per cent) say they urgently need extra infrastructure.

Compared to ten years ago, over 13 per cent more people are members of a sports club in Flanders. The total number of members today exceeds 1.4 million. Therefore, clubs need sufficient infrastructure, but there is often none. As a result, there are sometimes waiting lists and clubs have a maximum number of members they can accept. 

According to the Flemish Sports Federation, a structural increase in funding from local and regional governments in particular can provide a solution. On the other hand, public-private partnerships can also help. The sports clubs themselves, in turn, think of infrastructure in schools. There are often sufficient facilities and space there. More than six in ten Flemish sports clubs want to use school buildings even more outside school hours.

The umbrella federation calls on both municipal governments and the Flemish authorities to provide more space for sports and invest more in the construction of new sports infrastructure, the renovation of existing accommodations and the reallocation of unused premises.

^{#FlandersNewsService | A futsall match in Houthalen-Helchteren © BELGA PHOTO JOHAN EYCKENS}