Funding cuts threaten sports events: Graz in the crisis!

Funding cuts threaten sports events: Graz in the crisis!

In Graz, hopes for an anniversary for the beach volleyball tournament “Graz Beach” were suddenly destroyed. Due to a dramatic reduction in funding, which makes impressive 70 percent of the financial support of the city and country, the event, which should have taken place for the 30th time, will be canceled. Ingo Gruber from the Beach Volleyclub Graz commented: "We actually negotiated everything with the private sponsors, we registered the tournament ... and then this drastic reduction came out of the blue in February." This not only affects beach volleyball professionals, but also other sports events, such as the Grazathlon or the Graz Marathon, are facing uncertain times.

The situation is alarming: the clubs fight with drastically rising costs. The ice ages for the 99ers juniors have now become 50 percent more expensive, while sports promotion has been reduced by 10 percent at the same time. Ball sports clubs also have to get by with less and less money and face financial bottlenecks. The UVC Graz fears a budget hole of 80,000 euros. Against this background, the sports associations have been talking to the city on special financing of 700,000 euros for weeks. Markus Pichler from the Sportunion Styria described the precarious situation: "This is about payment of electricity costs, district heating, staff ... We can no longer do this." Financial City Councilor Manfred Eber (KPÖ), however, promises a solution next week because the financing package is in the final vote.

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