Sportunion boss McDonald calls for a youth sport guarantee in Sport Talk. “If I keep children away from sport, the collateral damage is greater.”
Austria's sports policy is facing its greatest challenges. From 2017 to the beginning of the year 550,000 club members were lost, the number of overweight, unsporting children is growing. For Peter McDonald, President of Sportunion Österreich since 2018, the foundation stone has been laid with the maintenance of almost all clubs through the NPO support fund.
The real work was only beginning now. The sports bonus (the ministry takes over 75 percent with a maximum of 90 euros for new members or returners) would only represent part of it. “The goal must be to get all children into club sport, currently it is 50 percent. And the school sports facilities should be opened more to clubs. Children's and youth sports in Austria's schools and sports clubs should be permanently secured. “
That is why McDonald sees omissions in the past that must not be repeated if the worst case in Austria occurs again. “In the Netherlands and Switzerland, with preventive measures, the sports facilities remained open for minors even in tough lockdowns. If I keep children away from sport, the collateral damage is much, much greater. “The pandemic development is currently” rather worrying “for McDonald.
