The Brussels Government has opened a call to all communes in the region to submit projects for new sports infrastructure as part of an initiative that will receive a total of €43 million in funding over three years.
All 19 municipalities can submit their ideas until 1 October this year, however, the investment must be made in their neighbourhoods where the sports infrastructure is lacking most, Brussels Minister for Local Authorities, Bernard Clerfayt, announced on Tuesday.
Although there is a good offering of sports facilities in the region, the supply has failed to keep up with demand as the population increased, resulting in some areas being deprived from opportunities to play sports, and sports clubs often being fully booked before the start of the season.
"A real vector for socialisation, federalisation, education and personal development, sport contributes to general good health, stimulates self-confidence and instils values essential to living together. The practice of sport must become a right," said Clerfayt. "Practising a sport should become a right."
The aim of the initiative is to increase and better distribute the supply of sports facilities in the region to in turn ensure more Brussels residents can practise a sport close to home.
What projects will receive funding?
The most imporant criterion for a project to receive funding is its location within the commune itself, more specifically one that is more disconnected and where there aren't many existing facilities, for example, in the city centre and parts of Forest and Saint-Gilles.
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The price that residents will have to pay to utilise the facility must also be harmonised, regardless of their municipality of residence.
Finally, project ideas will also be given an increase in subsidies based on other conditions, such as the energy performance of the builing, how accessible the building.