What is the impact of the energy crisis on mass sport? What actions are recommended? Are sports facilities about to close? After two years of the corona pandemic, mass sport is facing the next challenge. The most important questions and answers:
What impact is the energy crisis having on clubs?
The rising energy prices not only affect private citizens and industry, but also sports halls and swimming pools are threatened. The closure of sports facilities has already been discussed as part of cost-cutting measures. Steps have already been taken to counteract this with the Federal Government’s Energy Saving Ordinance.
According to that decree, the following measures have come into force within sports facilities as “public non-residential buildings” since September 1st:
- Public buildings should only be heated to a maximum of 19 degrees. This applies if the people in the rooms are mainly seated. The DOSB recommends a room temperature of 17 degrees for sports halls.
- Transit areas such as corridors, foyers or technical rooms should no longer be heated.
- The government has not specified any regulation of shower times and temperatures, and the operation of the floodlights and the swimming temperatures in the pools remain uncommented from this side. However, the DOSB recommends a number of measures to achieve energy savings of 20 percent.
Which savings measures does the DOSB recommend?
The DOSB has published a series of “Recommendations for energy reduction for sports clubs” to save at least 20 percent energy.
- Conscious heating: Heating systems should be controlled depending on occupancy times
- Switching off the hot water preparation for all sports facilities (except swimming pools): While showering with hot water should remain possible, the DOSB calls for the shower times to be reduced. In addition, resource-saving sanitary facilities are to be converted (water-saving shower heads and flow limiters).
- Needs-based operation of floodlight systems: Here, the use of space should be optimized so that only half the field is illuminated in places.
- Conversion to LED lighting technology (indoor and outdoor)
- Discontinuation of the use of disposable electronic devices
- Maintenance of the heating systems
- Insulation of heating and hot water pipes
The compact leaflet of the DOSB is here to find.
What measures does the DOSB provide for swimming pools?
Since more than 90 percent of swimming pools are heated with gas, these are particularly affected by the crisis. The DOSB recommends a three-stage plan for immediate measures for swimming pools:
- Stage 1: With gas operation: switch off the high-temperature outdoor pools, if necessary continue to operate outdoor pools unheated until the end of the season
- Stage 2: Shutting down all leisure-related pools and saunas (all pools except sports pools and teaching pools)
- Level 3: Reduction of the water temperature in the remaining sports/teaching pools to 26 °C
Are the clubs about to close?
A possible closure is in the room: “We cannot classify every company as systemically important. […] Products and offers that fall into the leisure and well-being area, [wären] rather subordinate. Swimming pools probably don’t belong in the critical area, just like the production of chocolate biscuits”said Klaus Müller, President of the Federal Network Agency to the “WAZ”.
On the part of the DOSB, however, avoiding the renewed closure of sports facilities was given as the highest goal. The DOSB considers a compensation of the increased energy prices by an increase in the membership fees “after challenging pandemic years” and expected member losses for “no option”.
For Christian Siegel, head of the “Sports Facilities, Environment and Sustainability” department, popular sport as the “backbone of our society” must be protected and kept open: “Sport forms and is an essential, social and health factor for an active and self-determined life in the community – especially after the challenging pandemic years.”
You can’t leave the clubs alone: “It therefore makes sense for the federal, state and local governments to develop funding programs for sports clubs that are in financial difficulties.”Siegel told WDR.
What are the consequences of the regulation on advertising measures?
For semi-professional sports clubs, advertising space in and on the halls and the associated sponsorship money are elementary. According to the Energy Saving Ordinance, “the operation of illuminated or light-emitting advertising systems” is prohibited from 10 p.m. to 4 p.m.
However, talks are already underway between the culture, youth and sports departments and the Federal Ministry of Economics. Accordingly, it was promised that there should be nationwide exceptions because of the lighting at sporting events: “LED boards in event locations such as halls and stadiums are not covered by the usage restriction for illuminated advertising systems”it said in a statement from the Initiative Profisport Deutschland (IPD).
The IPD goes from “a uniform nationwide interpretation of the term. In addition, LED boards in event venues are only in operation for a limited time – namely during the respective event – and not daily. They are also aimed at a specific group of addressees, the respective spectators at a Event”.
Where can organizations get help?
If your club is in financial distress, you should contact the city sports association, state sports association, the sports department and, if necessary, the state association.
You can find a list of the state sports associations here.
Can clubs file for bankruptcy?
It is possible for sports clubs to file for insolvency at the responsible district court. In the event of insolvency, the board of the association is also liable with its private assets.
What is happening at the sports policy level?
In addition to the relief packages for private consumers, no aid programs for sports clubs have been announced so far. The DOSB has criticized the non-consideration and calls for a relief package for clubs: “It cannot be that politicians repeat the mistakes of the corona pandemic and underestimate the importance of sport for society”said DOSB CEO Torsten Burmester and added: “Our sports clubs need noticeable financial relief.”
In order to collect information about the effects of the crisis on mass sport, the DOSB has announced a representative survey of a selection of sports clubs. The figures are intended to be used at the political level to promote greater relief.