LR Achleitner: “Return plan for sport”

Regardless of whether it is a small sports club or a professional business, the financial impact, due to the coronavirus pandemic and the steps taken to contain it, is relatively “equally dramatic everywhere and very business-like,” he says. State Minister Markus Achleitner.

On Wednesday, he unequivocally formulated the challenge in a video press conference with the country’s most important media: “Now it is about how to maintain the structures and overcome the crisis.”

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“I’m glad you think of such dimensions”

In this sense, the first thing to do is wait for the federal support package, which will be presented next week. Of course, Sports Minister Werner Kogler, with whom Achleitner had a lively exchange, spoke in the dimension of “a few hundred million euros that can cost.” “I am pleased that such dimensions are considered and that comparability with commercial companies is also seen. There are also additional costs, although the game cannot be carried out,” Achleitner emphasized.

His tentative conclusion: “It’s about liquidity.” Therefore, a number of measures have already been taken at the state level:

Grants paid, hardship fund installed

It was decided that all promised grants would be paid immediately and not in installments.

Even if the events are canceled, there are no funding cuts. “Because the organization always had to make advance payments,” said Achleitner.

In addition, a difficulties fund was created and endowed with five million euros, for sports and culture in a division of 50:50. “We don’t know the federal criteria, but if there are difficulties, we want to be able to help as a country,” Achleitner said.

“You will have to learn to live with viruses”

Achleitner knows that closing all of Austria was “the only right thing to do so that the health system is not overloaded.” But he knows that this disease will be with us for a long time. At least until a vaccine is available. “We will have to learn to live with the virus and we cannot lock ourselves up permanently like we do now,” said the regional council.

This is why it is important “also in sports to consider how and with what accompanying measures we can gradually and responsibly operate again. The sport needs a return plan, “said Achleitner, who has a national focus. Achleitner describes how it might look like this.

“To allow professional athletes to do their jobs again”

After Easter, the Linz Olympic Center will reopen for professional athletes so they can get on with their jobs and prepare for next winter or the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. “We had the experts come up with a concept that included individual car travel, no canteen service, home showers, coaches’ masks and, of course, compliance with generous distance rules,” Achleitner said.

Common sense is required in popular sports. Outdoor and individual sports have an advantage here: “Why shouldn’t tennis or golf be possible as a first step,” asks Achleitner.

“The referee is health”

Things are more difficult in a sport with physical contact, like soccer. “The referee is also the health that comes first.” As a first step, Achleitner can imagine that clubs can train in small groups, under precisely defined conditions, similar to those of the Olympic Center. “The clubs are very concerned about that.”

Bundesliga sequel sparks desires

Achleitner does not dare predict what will happen to the Bundesliga. Especially since there is also a need for international coordination with the other leagues and UEFA and there are many uncertainties, even in the case of ghost games. In addition, an early continuation of the Bundesliga would raise many wishes in the amateur and youth sectors. “The gap between grassroots and elite sport would widen,” said Achleitner.

If canceled: “It would be the fairest moment”

If the season really can’t be played to the end, then time with 22 rounds completed, back and forth, would be “the most fair thing for Achleitner”. The ÖFB and the Bundesliga have to decide how to evaluate that. “

Although he also considered that in the worst case there should not be a “legal crisis”. That means: St. Pölten (at the bottom of the table) and SV Ried (as second league leader) are demanding relegation or non-promotion. “Such a crisis requires drastic and unconventional measures,” emphasizes Achleitner. As long as there is solidarity between the clubs, he can “win something” from a 14th Bundesliga.