Public funds for sports
After the medals won by Romanian athletes at the Olympic Games in Paris, the government promises to take measures to support Romanian sport.
Daniela Budu, 09.08.2024, 14:00
To support Romanian sport and expand the selection pool, the government has adopted a bill amending the sports law to allow the state budget to also provide funding for private clubs. The money would only have to be used for children and juniors, and the private clubs in question must be certified by the state institutions in order to be able to access the funds. Moreover, the authorities said investments would be made in sports facilities in Bucharest and the surroundings, and works would continue on 380 other facilities, especially gyms and swimming pools from around the country. According to prime minister Marcel Ciolacu, in the last two years, the Romanian state finalised 200 gyms, 50 sports facilities and 16 swimming pools.
The prize fund was also supplemented for the athletes winning medals at the Paris Games. In this context, the prime minister said the gymnasts Sabrina Voinea and Ana Maria Bărbosu, who appealed the scores they got, saying they were clearly disadvantaged by the judges, will also be rewarded by the state. “Both of them fully deserve it”, said Ciolacu. The Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee said athletes would receive 140,000 euros for winning a gold medal, 100,000 euros for silver and 60,000 euros for bronze.
Swimmer David Popovici, who won the gold in 200 m freestyle, said recently that he wished the medals he got in Paris would help bring in more investments in this field. For an educated and healthy Romania we need to invest more in sports, he said after winning a gold and a bronze in Paris.
Emil Boc, the mayor of Cluj Napoca, in the north-west, said the county’s Olympic swimming pool, whose construction began in spring, will be named after Popovici. The pool, which is for everyone, is to be finalised by the end of next year and will be used to host national and international competitions. The mayor of Bucharest Nicușor Dan also said the Bucharest city hall should receive more money to be able to get involved in developing the sports infrastructure. The president of the Romanian Rowing and Modern Pentathlon Federation Camelia Potec said she was confident that a generation of swimmers could be created around David Popovici that would continue to bring in medals for Romania.
The president of the National Agency for Sport Elisabeta Lipă said Romania already won more medals in Paris than in the previous edition in Tokyo. “I hope that Romania ends the Games well, because Romanian sport is not dead. Romanian sport has been revived, but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t need help”, she added.
