Evaluation of the 2014-2022 RDP action ‘promotion of sport facilities’ in Saxony-Anhalt

During the 2014-2022 funding period, Saxony-Anhalt (Germany) made European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) support available for investments in sports facilities for the first time. The evaluation found the broad reach of the support to be positive, with 203 approved projects across 132 localities (98 municipalities) and an estimated 11 000-19 000 users, while noting that impacts could have been even wider if repeated use of the funding by individual operators had been more limited.

Quantitative data on the implementation of sports facility funding were primarily obtained by evaluating EAFRD monitoring data. In addition, the data for the evaluation of funding applications according to the standardised state-wide project selection criteria for support under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) Measure 7 were evaluated. A literature review of contextual conditions was also conducted. Qualitative evidence came from technical discussions with the ministry of the interior and sports, an approval body (ALFF Anhalt) and the regional sports federation (Landessportbund, LSB), and from an online survey of all beneficiaries authorised for one or more projects by the end of 2021. Given the high participation rate in the survey, the results are considered well-representative.

The evaluation finds that the uniform selection criteria under Measure 7 tended to favour larger sports clubs and sport-performance-related aspects, which are more typical of larger settlements, disadvantaging smaller village clubs. In contrast, smaller towns benefited more from LEADER-funded projects. Survey results indicate that subsidised facilities are frequently used not only by the sports clubs themselves but also by third parties (e.g. schools and other local organisations). Beneficiaries reported that refurbishment/modernisation supported member recruitment, strengthened inclusion of specific groups (women and girls, senior citizens, migrants) and was associated with higher facility utilisation. Respondents also perceived the facilities as important meeting points that bring people together, suggesting a contribution to social cohesion, especially in small towns.

Regarding delivery, approval bodies viewed the procedure as relatively unproblematic and highlighted good cooperation with the LSB and its information activities. Beneficiaries praised the funding rate and advisory support – particularly from LEADER management – while criticising administrative burden (applications and accounting of projects) and processing speed. Difficulties were reported around procurement obligations, obtaining offers and the need for pre-financing, which can be challenging for associations.

The evaluation recommends continuing funding for sports facilities. It argues that transferring selection procedures in 2023-2027 to LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs) could better meet the objective of improving living conditions in rural areas. It recommends giving greater weight in future selection decisions to the degree of refurbishment needs, limiting repeated funding by the same operators to increase breadth of impact, and using the EU legal option for advance payments. Further recommendations address operational rules: setting a de minimis threshold for user charges in the context of restrictions on commercial use, clarifying accessibility requirements for investments in existing buildings (e.g. via guidance/handouts), and strengthening networking and experience exchange between LEADER actors and sport bodies.