(cont. from § 8) Sport and outdoor life (cont. KrU3)

Vasiliki Tsouplaki (V)

Sports and outdoor life

Madam Speaker! The sports movement is Sweden's largest popular movement with its around 3 million members and an incredible 750,000, approximately, volunteer leaders. Every day, all year round, almost 145,000 children and young people train in a sports club somewhere in Sweden. Sport is an important part of the community. It gives people a sense of belonging and camaraderie. At the same time, public health is, of course, promoted.

Vänsterpartiet has long highlighted the problems with increased inequality regarding children and youth's access to sports participation. It appears from the Centre for Sports Research's annual follow-up that children with university-educated parents participate in sports to a much greater extent than children of parents with only upper secondary education. Children of single parents participate in sports to a lesser extent than children of cohabiting parents. In the statistics, one can see that girls with a foreign background participate in sports the least of all. It is also the case that far too many leave sports far too early. Already at the age of eleven, the curve begins to go down. At the age of eleven, the most children participate. Then the membership curve for the sports clubs drops sharply.

One of the reasons it looks that way is the costs. It is only one of the reasons – there may be more – but a very important reason. What we see, and which was mentioned earlier in the debate, is that children's and young people's participation in sports has become a class issue. It affects both the right to a meaningful leisure time and the right to physical and mental health. Mental ill-health, as well as the proportion of overweight children and young people, has increased significantly in recent decades. There is a clear connection between low socioeconomic status and ill-health.

Madam Speaker! The Swedish Sports Confederation reports that, on average, it has become 68 percent more expensive for children and youth to participate in sports since 2009. It is pleasing that the government now says it wants to delve further into that issue and that it has commissioned more research. But one thing that can be discerned already in the existing reports is that the sports clubs themselves can actually influence this development. It appears that in the clubs, there is a need to work on attitudes toward the cost increases. Today, many clubs fill their teams and activities regardless of the price tag, and in that case, there may be no reason to reconsider arrangements for trips, camps, clothing purchases, and so on. Therefore, there is a need for an awareness that many are being shut out today and that it actually goes against the foundations of the sports movement. It cannot be the ambition level of the most resourceful parents that determines the ambition level in the club.

Madam Speaker! For the Left Party, it is important that we reduce the growing inequalities among children and young people regarding meaningful leisure time and health. We have hoped that the leisure card, which the government announced and which we have already discussed to some extent in today's debate, could make it easier for a large number of children to afford meaningful leisure activities. But we are concerned about how high the costs will be for administration and implementation, so it is clear that the question is raised whether it could have been possible to support families in their economic situation in a better and more efficient way.

Another source of concern regarding the implementation of the leisure card is the lack of premises. In that matter, the government is unfortunately lagging behind. They hope to avoid investments by finding unused sports halls at schools, for example. It is certainly possible to free up a few more hall hours through such a review, but other measures are also needed.

The previous government paved the way for a local and construction fund, which, for example, Angelika Bengtsson spoke about earlier. Now, the Center for Sports and Outdoor Facilities actually exists, which can convey knowledge about facilities. But they have not been commissioned by the government to advise associations and municipalities. They also do not have any investment funds that could function as lubricant, in the way that the Danish model does. I think it is very unfortunate that something that works so well in our neighboring country Denmark has not quite been established yet. This has been advocated across party lines. We are now missing these two important pieces of the puzzle.

I can see in today's report that the government has instead issued a new assignment, to Boverket this time. It appears that they are to do approximately the same things as what the Center for Sports and Outdoor Facilities has already been assigned to do. I think this is fragmented. We actually need to take action now.

Another obstacle to the success of the leisure card is the difficulty of obtaining teachers and leaders – teachers in the culture school, for example, and leaders within sports and outdoor life – which would allow for receiving a larger influx of children. It is therefore not enough to only help with the fees if one does not plan for the entire chain.

Right now, given the situation, it looks like we run a great risk that this system will only subsidize the fees for the children who already have a place in the leisure activities and will not become the positive addition that means more people get the opportunity.

It is also the case, Madam Speaker, that many of those who do not participate in organized sports today live in sports-weak areas. There, resources are needed to strengthen the association structure, so that there is, in the first place, a functioning receiving association. The investment of 100 million that the government is making is not sufficient, if one looks at the number of municipalities in our country and how many different sports are to share those funds. Therefore, there were 225 million more in our shadow budget than in the government's investment.

Madam Speaker! When it comes to outdoor life associations, the challenges are partly different. They have a large number of practitioners but significantly lower grants than the sports associations. They have therefore not been able to build up the same administrative support, and it becomes more difficult, for example, to receive an initiative such as the leisure card.

Even here there is a shortage of leaders, but it is not always a lack of commitment that sets the stop. I believe it was Miljöpartiet that raised the example that Friluftsfrämjandet has only been able to train 250 of the nearly 2,500 who want to become leaders. There are therefore great opportunities to accept more young people, as one does not have the same problems with lack of space as sports does. Therefore, Vänsterpartiet thinks that we should squeeze in some extra support, and we have 10 million more than the government for the outdoor organizations.

Madam Speaker! Even if there is no lack of time for outdoor life, there are other obstacles to accessibility. There is now strong criticism of the cuts that the government and the Sweden Democrats have made within nature conservation, which have made it more difficult to maintain trails and facilities in forests and on land.

Unfortunately, we also need to monitor how the government's proposals regarding deteriorations in the shore protection can affect the public's access to both water and beaches. A strong right of public access is a prerequisite for both organized outdoor life and for individuals' opportunities to move freely in nature.

Madam Speaker! During the final part of my speech, I want to speak about a problem. It is unworthy of a welfare country like Sweden that people with a disability still have difficulty participating in association life in the same way as others. Ill health is almost ten times more common among people with disabilities compared to the rest of the population, according to the Public Health Agency. Vänsterpartiet therefore sees a great need to strengthen the opportunities for sports for people with disabilities.

Today, there are a number of obstacles. It can be about purely physical obstacles in the form of sports facilities that are not adapted, or one may live in a location where there is a lack of organized club sports within para-sports. The worsened right to assistance also puts spokes in the wheels for those who need support to be able to practice their sport, and for those living in a special residence, it can, for example, be low staffing that creates problems that make it impossible to go out. Furthermore, several of the sports are very costly. In other words, measures are needed in several different areas and involvement from both the state, municipalities, and the club life.

We see that everything indicates that the economy of para-sport needs to be strengthened. Today, there are no specific funds set aside from the state side for para-sport, but around 3 percent of the support is estimated to go there. Para-sports exist within a large number of special sports federations, and it may initially require some extra resources when starting up new groups and special adaptations in order to be able to include more. One may, for example, need to have smaller groups and more leaders.

In the Left Party's budget proposal, there were 175 million in specifically targeted support for para-sports, and we would hope that more parties can stand behind such a direction.

In conclusion: Sports equipment costs a lot, and this applies of course to the entire sports life. Para-sports equipment is, however, extra expensive, and that makes private finances much more decisive. At the same time, we know that people with disabilities have a weak position on the labor market and low compensation, and that families with children who have a disability generally have weaker finances.

The Swedish Sports Confederation currently has targeted support for associations that purchase para-sports equipment, but the Left Party argues that it is not sufficient. We therefore want to see an investigation carried out with the aim of closing the economic gap between athletes with disabilities and those without.

Therefore, I move for approval of reservation 8.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Anne-Li Sjölund (C)

Madam Speaker! Sport and outdoor life are one of the strongest forces we have to build a healthy and cohesive society. It is about physical activity, public health and joy, but also about community, inclusion and faith in the future.

They are meeting places for children and young people where they can grow, where newcomers find their way into society and where older people can stay active. It is commitment, association life and thousands of voluntary efforts that make a difference every day. From small local sports clubs to world championships – sport unites people across generations, backgrounds and geographical boundaries.

But we also face great challenges. Swedish children and young people are moving less and less. Studies show that children's motor skills have deteriorated significantly. Being able to do a somersault or hop on one leg should be a given, but for many children, it is not. That is why it is an important initiative that the Swedish Gymnastics Federation is taking. They are now training sports teachers across the country to strengthen children's basic motor skills and joy of movement. It is an initiative that should receive even greater support and attention.

But we need to do much more. The thresholds to association life must be low so that more people find a leisure activity they enjoy. Here, our sports and outdoor life associations play an invaluable role. We see it in projects like Idrottsklivet, where associations in vulnerable areas receive support to reach more children and young people. We see it in para-sports associations, which work so that more people with disabilities can participate in sports on their own terms. We see it in initiatives such as Häng med oss ut within the outdoor life movement. We see it in local enthusiasts who devote hundreds of hours to tracing ski tracks and keeping football pitches open. Through local initiatives, more people are given the chance to participate and find a sport they enjoy.

Madam Speaker! Sport is a force that creates both breadth and elite. It is a place for everyone, from those who want to run a lap around the block to those who dream of Olympic medals. But we must ensure that the conditions exist.

Parasport must be strengthened. No one should have to struggle extra just to participate in sports. Today, many people with disabilities face high thresholds. Transport services are not always approved in a sports context, accompaniment is not granted, and adapted sports facilities and trained leaders are lacking. Access to leisure aids is unequal, and many elite athletes in parasport also have insecure economic conditions. We therefore need to remove both practical and structural barriers. Everyone should have the right to participate in sports on their own terms. Sports should be for everyone.

Parasport is sport for persons with physical disabilities, visual impairments, or intellectual disabilities. The latter has its own Olympics, Special Olympics. It is an Olympics where the joy of sport means much more than medals. Soon it is time again for the world's largest mass sports competition, where 1,500 athletes from all over the world compete in the Winter Games in Turin. Sweden is sending 25 athletes, and for many it becomes life's greatest adventure. I wish the Swedish team great luck in Turin and hope that everyone is inspired by their joy, fighting spirit, and sporting community.

Madam Speaker! Elite athletes need better economic conditions. It should be possible to pursue a sports career without having to live off one's parents or jump between insecure jobs. We need to review the possibility of student support, improved insurance, and other safety nets that make it possible to combine sports with education and work in a sustainable way.

Swedish sports maintain a high level, but we must create the conditions for our athletes to be able to perform at their peak without having to worry about finances. Let us build a system that makes it possible to invest in elite sports and at the same time have a secure future!

Sport is also about commitment and experiences, and there, large sporting events play an important role. When world cup competitions in biathlon are organized in Östersund, when Vätternrundan attracts cyclists from all over the world, and when Göteborg Horse Show gathers over 350 volunteers, we see the power that sport has.

This year we have much to look forward to at home. We have already managed to follow the World Championships in rally and the World Cup in skiing, and now during our ongoing debate, Jonna Sundling has taken the World Championship gold in the sprint. Big congratulations to her!

We continue the year with the Ice Hockey World Championship, the centenary of the Finnkampen, the Bandy World Championship and the Frisbee World Championship – it was a haul. It is like a bag of sweets for all sports lovers.

International sports events strengthen sports, unite Sweden and spread joy far beyond the arenas. They create jobs and encounters between people and contribute to a vibrant and sustainable development.

Madam Speaker! We in the Center Party see sports and outdoor life as an enormous resource. We see great opportunities to contribute to political goals such as a living countryside, increased safety, equality and gender equality, reduced involuntary loneliness among the elderly, better integration and public health. It is the responsibility of politics to create the right conditions. We must remove obstacles, not regulate. The Center Party wants to lower the thresholds for outdoor life so that more people get the opportunity to discover the power of nature for both health and preparedness.

Imagine a spring evening in a small town. The football pitch is filled with children running after the ball, laughing and shouting. A few kilometers away, a group of hikers moves through the forest, enjoying the silence and the fresh air. In another place, a paracyclist struggles up a hill, focused and determined. These are three different ways of moving, but with the same basic values: the joy of movement and community.

Sports and outdoor life are among the best investments we can make for health, society, and the future. It is not just about competition and performance, but about giving more people the opportunity to find their place, regardless of where they live and what conditions they have. For some, it is the association life, for others, it is the calm of nature. The important thing is that the opportunities exist for everyone.

In a time when mental ill-health is increasing, where sedentary behavior is becoming an ever greater challenge and more and more young people are leaving club sports, we must do more to lower the thresholds. Sports and outdoor life complement each other and can create a joy of movement without demands.

Madam Speaker! Let us ensure that more people get the chance to move, compete, play, and dream on their own terms! With that, I move for approval of the Centerpartiet's reservation 9.

(Applause)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)

Daniel Lönn (SD)

Madam Speaker! Initially, I can state that the Sweden Democrats have many important reservations in this report. We naturally stand behind all of them. My party colleague Angelika Bengtsson has already moved for approval of reservation 11, which is why, in order to save time, I choose to settle for that. During my speech, I will concentrate on the Sweden Democrats' motion on match-fixing and increased penalties, more specifically motions 3 and 5, which are found in reservation 13 in the report.

Madam Speaker! In recent years, reports of match-fixing occurring in both Swedish and international sporting contexts have succeeded one another. A number of measures have been implemented, and the Swedish Sports Confederation (Riksidrottsförbundet) has invested great resources to inform the sports community about the problem and has taken action regarding the issues that exist.

The Swedish Sports Confederation (Riksidrottsförbundet) made a decision in May 2015 regarding a special regulation where the maximum penalty is up to ten years of suspension from all organized sports activities for a person who has actively participated in betting and/or manipulation. An association shall also be able to be fined up to 500,000 kronor.

In the Tidö Agreement, we have been proactive on the issue of confidentiality between authorities. A new main rule in the confidentiality legislation is that all relevant information shall be shared with law enforcement agencies to combat crime. The legislative change will facilitate the work of the law enforcement agencies against match-fixing.

Madam Speaker! Match-fixing is a major threat to the legitimacy of Swedish sports. We are already observing how the problem is spreading to more sports and lower divisions. It is a development that must be stopped. Therefore, it is directly necessary that a broader educational effort is directed towards sports clubs and their sports leaders.

There are today several expert actors with in-depth knowledge regarding match-fixing. That knowledge must also reach our active members in the associations. The trust for sports must not be exploited by criminal networks whose only real driving force is to transform the sport into an arena for money laundering and other economic crime. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that relevant authorities and organizations assist the Swedish Sports Confederation in educating sports clubs and sports leaders about match-fixing.

Madam Speaker! In the government's proposition 2022/23:33, the assessment was made that the Swedish Gambling Authority should not be given the opportunity to stop betting on matches where there is a suspicion of match-fixing. According to the government, an opportunity for the Swedish Gambling Authority to issue a ban on providing betting on a certain betting object would be associated with similar problems as the possibility to use decisions on condition changes that already exists today.

A decision on a ban on providing games on a certain gaming object directed at all current and potentially future license holders would constitute a norm decision, i.e., a decision on regulations according to Chapter 8 of the Instrument of Government. Norm decisions are characterized by the fact that they are in principle binding for authorities and individuals and by the fact that they do not concern only a concrete case but have a general applicability.

Even though the government's considerations are fully understandable, there are reasons, we believe, to investigate the issue further. The issue of match-fixing is complex. For example, players may feel forced to participate due to threats or violence from criminal actors who are often involved in precisely match-fixing. To combat that type of crime, not only education and police resources are needed, but also practical tools to prevent criminals from earning and/or laundering money through gambling. One way to make it more difficult for criminals to use sport and betting as a tool for their crime is to introduce a gambling ban on matches where there is a suspicion of match-fixing.

Madam Speaker! In conclusion, I can state that match-fixing does not only threaten the legitimacy of Swedish sports. It undermines trust in our Swedish institutions. Through increased penalties and educational initiatives, we are taking important steps to eradicate the criminal networks that want to exploit our sporting life for their own gain.

The Sweden Democrats do not tolerate any form of manipulation. We safeguard the legitimacy of sports, and we stand united in the fight for a sporting life without criminal influence.

(Applause)

In this speech, Jonas Andersson and Rasmus Giertz (both SD) agreed.

The deliberation was hereby concluded.

(A decision was to be taken on 12 March.)

The speech at riksdagen.se, in Swedish (opens in a new tab)