Sports funding demanded: LSB seeks 10% from unique assets - Sports funding: LSB seeks 10% share of the designated funds
In a bid to address the substantial investment backlog at central sports facilities in Berlin, the Landessportbund Berlin (LSB) has made an appeal to the Berlin Senate, urging them to allocate funds from the federal special fund "Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality."
The special fund, totalling 500 billion euros, is a significant source of funding for various projects across Germany. However, as of August 2025, no public, detailed plan explicitly designates parts of this fund towards sports investments in Berlin or specifically to clear investment backlogs at central sports facilities.
The backlog in investments amounts to approximately 1.2 billion euros, including the Sportforum Hohenschoenhausen, Olympiapark, district sports facilities, and Berlin baths. The LSB demands that 10% of the annual funds from this federal special fund be invested in sports, which would equate to around 43.4 million euros per year for Berlin.
The federal-state agreement, once drafted, will create the conditions for implementing the program related to the special fund. This agreement is crucial for the implementation of the program, particularly in the context of sports investments in Berlin. The federal government is responsible for setting the budgetary conditions and distributing funds from the special fund to the federal states.
Around 100 billion euros from the special fund will be set aside for the federal states for the next twelve years. The LSB President, Thomas Haertel, made this statement in a statement, emphasising the need for immediate action to alleviate the backlog in investments at Berlin's sports facilities.
The federal government is currently working on the budgetary conditions for spending the special fund. If the demand is met, it could potentially bring a much-needed boost to Berlin's sports infrastructure. The LSB's appeal comes at a time when the demand for sports facilities in Berlin is on the rise, making it increasingly important to address the backlog in investments.
The German government announced a massive investment plan focused on infrastructure development and climate neutrality, involving a separate €500 billion fund. However, this broad initiative does not directly reference sports infrastructure. Official federal communication centres on topics such as climate goals, technological innovation, and general infrastructure enhancement, without specifying allocations for sports or Berlin's central sports facility backlog.
As the federal-state agreement is being drafted, the LSB and Berlin Senate await clarification on any targeted sports-related use of these funds. The outcome of these negotiations could have a significant impact on Berlin's sports facilities and the city's ability to cater to the growing demand for sports infrastructure.
- The Landessportbund Berlin (LSB) has suggested that a part of the annual funds from the federal special fund "Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality" be allocated towards improving employment opportunities within the sports sector, considering the significant number of employment policies they've mentioned.
- In light of the 100 billion euros set aside for federal states over the next twelve years from the "Infrastructure and Climate Neutrality" fund, the LSB is advocating for the creation of community programs that promote sports and finance, considering the increasing demand for sports facilities in Berlin.
