In an open letter to Sports Senator Grote and Finance Senator Dressel, NOlympia-Hamburg calls for an additional 167 million euros to be invested in accessible sports facilities in low-status districts in the double budget 2027/2028. Hamburg can receive more than 2.66 billion euros from the Law on the financing of infrastructure investments by federal states and municipalities (LuKIFG) These funds have not yet been allocated and have not yet been earmarked. The funds can be invested in sports infrastructure, but must be invested in addition to the investments from the core budget.
Eckart Maudrich, spokesperson for NOlympia-Hamburg:
"With this possibility, which can be implemented independently of the IOC and DOSB, to invest 167 million euros in the next double budget for accessible sports facilities in low-status areas of Hamburg, Hamburg can show in particular how much it relies on the integrative power of sport, on infrastructure acceleration and thus on the multiple added value of sport. With this investment in sports facilities, the Senate would make a binding investment in effective movement promotion measures and thus directly in the neighborhood for almost 360,000 people (18).% Hamburgers) and, regardless of the uncertain prospect of applying, sustainably improve the quality of life. ”
Appendix
Effectiveness of Olympia as a driver for movement
| Factors that have influenced sports and exercise behavior | ||
| % of respondents who rated the following factors as very important or important for the change in sporting/physical activity behaviour (n (Beijing)=399, n (London)= 168 | ||
| Beijing 2008 | London 2012 | |
| Stay fit | 66% | 70% |
| time | 70% | 58% |
| Awareness of health | 74% | 57% |
| Availability Sports facilities & Parks | 64% | 54% |
| Sporty self-confidence | 63% | 43% |
| Attitude to sport | 65% | 39% |
| Influence of friends | 54% | 34% |
| Sport competence | 62% | 31% |
| Watch other sporting events | 38% | 28% |
| money | 43% | 22% |
| Changes in Family Responsibility | 45% | 18% |
| Social pressure | 52% | 18% |
| Impact of the Olympic Games | 32% | 14% |
Source: Chen, S, Liang, X, Hu, X & Yan, X 2022, Assessing the long-term inspirational impact of sporting
mega-events on sport and physical activity participation: postevents’ evidence from the UK and China. p. 26
The open letter in the text
Dear Sportsenator Grote,
Dear Senator Dressel,NOlympia Hamburg has with great interest your assertions noted in connection with the publication of the HWWI study on the economic dimension of sport in Hamburg. The fact that sport “strengthens not only cohesion and quality of life in our city, but also prosperity and economic growth”, i.e. that every euro for sport brings multiples of added value.
At present, there is a historic opportunity to meet these goals, regardless of the bid for the Games and regardless of a possible award by the IOC, with concrete additional investments in the sports facilities infrastructure in 2027/2028, i.e. 9-16 years accelerated, to get closer.
How can this be done?
The LuKIFG represents Hamburg €2.66 billion available. One of the eligible objectives is the infrastructure of sports facilities. According to a report by NDR on 27 March, the use of funds for the double budget 2027/2028 and the budget of the LuKFIG is still being planned. So just the right time to invest in the amount of 167 million euros (6% the LuKIFG) in accessible sports facilities and with a focus on low-status areas
(see source).Why 167 million?
The application concept envisages investments in sports facilities (UDP 3.1) amounting to 167 million euros. However, these are in the distant future and depend on decisions of democratically unlegitimate institutions that represent a fraction of sportspeople. Hamburg can and should therefore take these right goals into its own hands in the exercise of its independence and freedom. Now.
Why does it make sense to make these investments in addition?
The sports facilities infrastructure has massive catch-up needs in terms of refurbishment, extension and replacement buildings. That's why, according to the 2024 sports report from 2020-2024, they provided an average of 55 million euros per year for public sports fields and school sports halls, others for swimming pool infrastructure and just under 2 million euros per year for clubs. They point out that this is also planned for the future. That's the right direction.
Against this background, it is important to emphasize that the SVIK or the LuKFIG require additionality. Investments over the 10% Exceeding the investment rate of the budget. Reports as well as the IFO Institute as well as this IW, between 86%-95% the special fund had been misappropriated and there was therefore no much-needed investment stimulus. They therefore explicitly warn against shifting station tactics, which push already planned expenses out of the core budget and into the special fund.
With additional investments of EUR 167 million, Hamburg can therefore massively improve the quality and scope of the sports facilities infrastructure in the short term and achieve ‘multiple added value’ with these investments.
Club sports should benefit from these additional investments in order to improve the leverage effect of the investments. Therefore, the annual budget should be at least doubled. However, the Court of Auditors in its Annual report 2026 significant errors mentioned above and serious infringements in grant management that have existed for more than a decade are immediately rectified.Why does this fit with the city's sporting ambitions?
The federal government is already investing an annual share in 2026 2.11% (866 million euros) of its share in the special fund. As a sports city, Hamburg would do well not to fall behind this proportion.
We therefore ask you to use your independence to trigger this important impulse in cohesion, growth and accessibility now in order to realize a sporting, social and economic compound interest effect that cannot be redeemed by dependencies and uncertainties.
We look forward to hearing from you.
With sporting greetings,
For NOlympia-Hamburg
Eckart Maudrich
info@nolympia-hamburg.de
Source:
Social Monitoring Integrated Urban Development - Report 2025, S17, Map 2
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