Sports infrastructure
Supported projects from the Sports Support Fund for 2025
A call for the construction, reconstruction and modernization of sports infrastructure.
In total, we supported projects worth € 34,891,289.89 in this call
The basic prerequisite for the implementation of sports activities is the availability of high-quality sports infrastructure. The construction, modernization and reconstruction of infrastructure aims to increase the participation of the population in sports activities. Through the availability of high-quality and modern infrastructure for training and sports competitions, it can be assumed that there will be an increased interest in sports and the improvement of a healthy lifestyle of the population, the development of communities and social inclusion, not excluding the education of youth and related activities. Therefore, the Ministry of Tourism and Sport of the Slovak Republic is trying to create conditions for a comprehensive and high-quality offer of movement, sports and other leisure programs, which are implemented under the assumption of a sustainable financing model and appropriate local sports infrastructure. The term regional infrastructure means infrastructure for basic sports training, training of talented and top athletes, amateur sports, infrastructure designed for the conditions of the general sports and lay public and, last but not least, for the preparation of sports representatives and the organization of sports events. Subsequently, the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic initiated the Act on the Sports Support Fund, which was established on the basis of Act No. 310/2019 Coll., as amended (Act No. 323/2020 Coll.). The Sports Support Fund is a public institution ensuring the support and development of sport. Its main mission is to create favorable conditions for the development of sport in the Slovak Republic. The Fund provides funds in the form of contributions to sports support projects, monitors support projects, participates in the promotion of sport in the Slovak Republic, carries out educational activities and methodological and advisory activities in the field of sport and, last but not least, cooperates with international organizations and foreign institutions operating in the field of sport. The activities of the Sports Support Fund also consist in announcing calls for the purpose of development, or the construction of sports infrastructure in the Slovak Republic, the improvement of the technical level and quality of the existing sports infrastructure, which will improve the conditions for the implementation of sports activities of the sports team of the Slovak Republic, top sports, youth sports, sports for all and sports for the disabled. So far, two calls have been published and information on ongoing calls is published on the website:
https://www.fondnapodporusportu.sk/moznosti-podpory/sportova-infrastruktura
Projects of regional sports infrastructure supported so far
If you have any questions about the call for proposals, you can send an email to ziadosti.infrastruktura@fnps.sk
School sports infrastructure
School infrastructure for physical education and sports is used not only during school hours, but also in the afternoon, for the needs of all age groups of the population, including seniors and disabled citizens. Today, most schools do not have school sports facilities at their disposal at all, while the existing ones are often in a state of disrepair or unsuitable for the needs of today. When building school sports facilities, it is also important to take into account current trends and the interest of the young generation in new sports and physical activities. In addition to focusing on the development of sports infrastructure in schools (gyms, swimming pools, athletic ovals, multifunctional playgrounds, schoolyards and school grounds, workout fields, gyms, movement studios, open and covered sports grounds, and other spaces adapted for the implementation of physical and sports activities), which is essentially a learning/educational space, regional sports infrastructure, which is in most cases owned by local governments, plays an important role.
Sports infrastructure of national importance
Sports infrastructure of national importance (ŠINV) is traditionally associated with sports facilities serving the needs of top sport. According to Section 3 (p) of Act No. 440/2015 Coll. on Sport, sports infrastructure of national importance is defined as "sports infrastructure meeting the requirements of an international sports organization that is intended for international competition or training of sports representatives."
The distinction of sports infrastructure of national importance is carried out in different countries and tends to have several reasons. The most fundamental one concerns financing. The granting of the ŠINV status is primarily based on the need of the ministries responsible for sports to identify selected sports facilities entitled to special forms of financing from state funds, which are usually beyond the usual form of support and the system of subsidies. This applies primarily to the construction of new facilities and the reconstruction of existing ones. In some cases, state support is also directed to their operation. This type of infrastructure also tends to be distinguished in an effort to ensure the special status of such sports facilities and to prevent impacts that would have a negative impact on the fulfilment of their purpose or lead to their eventual liquidation. This applies, for example, to sports grounds of historical value that serve a long-term sports purpose, or to sports venues that are of strategic importance for national sports associations for the development of their sport. Last but not least, this type of infrastructure is defined in an effort to provide high-quality conditions for sport at various levels, with an emphasis primarily on its competitive form.
Sports infrastructure is probably most often mentioned as one of the most pressing problems that requires a systemic solution, including financial resources. The development of sports infrastructure of national importance also needs to have a defined plan or strategy for several years ahead, which would determine clear goals of what needs to be built or reconstructed in the coming years, as well as the basic principles according to which the development of sports infrastructure should be managed. The Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic, together with the Slovak Olympic and Sports Committee, the Government Plenipotentiary for Youth and Sports and the Sports Support Fund, organized a conference in Trnava on 20.09.2021, the topic of which was the presentation of a draft intention for the construction of sports infrastructure of national importance in the years 2021 – 2027. Within the framework of the ŠINV strategy, projects were presented, which, based on the agreement of stakeholders, were included among the priorities within the construction, reconstruction and modernization of sports infrastructure for a period of 7-10 years. These projects include:
- Zemník Speed Canoeing and Rowing Centre
- National Shooting Center Trnava
- Košice Football Arena
- National Swimming Sports Centres
- Reconstruction of the ice rink (Trenčín)
- Athletic Stadium (Bratislava – Petržalka)
- Reconstruction of multifunctional sports halls:
• reconstruction of the Ondrej Nepela Ice Stadium (Bratislava)
• reconstruction of the Steel Arena (Košice) - Project of multifunctional halls in regional cities
- Reconstruction of the National Motocross Center – Sverepec
- National Cycling Center
- National Gymnastics Center
- Reconstruction of the National Tennis Centre in Bratislava
- Reconstruction of the Nordic skiing area in Štrbské Pleso
- Reconstruction of the National Biathlon Centre in Osrblie
Passportization of sports infrastructure
Currently, there is no comprehensive register of sports infrastructure. The ministry is working on the creation of a register of sports facilities and sports facilities, which we expect to be completed in 2023 and we estimate the time of filling it for the next few years.
In the past, we have created a non-exhaustive list of sports infrastructure, which is accessible here:
PASSPORTING OF SPORTS INFRASTRUCTURE
Warning: The data were entered by the entities voluntarily, the Ministry does not bear any guarantee for the accuracy of the data contained in this list.