Austria is eagerly awaiting the outcome of the national elections on September 29. The Austrian Federal Election Board will also be keeping a close eye on the result and the formation of the government. For good reasons.
Austria’s largest sports association traditionally strives for good cooperation with those responsible in the Ministry of Sport, after all, it is dependent on their support in many matters.
According to ÖFB President Klaus Mitterdorfer, the cooperation has recently worked very well, and this should not change under a new government. “We have had a very constructive relationship since I took office. A lot of positive things have happened in a good exchange,” Mitterdorfer told APA.
The implementation of the ÖFB campus in Vienna-Aspern, for example, would not have been possible without the Ministry of Sport led by Werner Kogler (Greens); the support of the Vienna city government also helped with the implementation.
Request concert
There are many requests for the government. The construction of a new arena, a vexed issue that has been discussed for years, is still at the top of the agenda, regardless of which parties are in charge in the future.
“I think that after the election, people will already know that they need a stadium for sports, for all sports, international finals and rounds, and also concerts. And I am confident that things will start moving after the election,” said Mitterdorfer.
The Carinthian is confident that a stadium can be built within one legislative period. In this context, the search for private investors is still ongoing, because it is difficult to argue for a new arena paid for entirely by the public sector. “We are trying to attract investors so that the stadium does not have to be financed solely from tax revenue,” promised Mitterdorfer.
Mitterdorfer also has a concern when it comes to amateur football. The bureaucratic effort, for example the obligation to use cash registers, or liability issues are threatening to alienate more and more officials.
“We have over 2,000 football clubs in Austria. The question is how we will manage to continue to have many volunteers in the coming years when the challenges are becoming increasingly difficult. We cannot allow everything to be overshadowed by legal structures.”
Here he hopes for “a certain tact” from politicians.