Sports law Aargau cantonal council wants to regulate sports promotion in a law

In the canton of Aargau, the promotion of sport is to be enshrined as a state task in a sports law. Following positive reactions during the consultation, the cantonal government has submitted the corresponding draft law to the cantonal parliament for discussion without any amendments.

Cantonal sports promotion involves, for example, the implementation of youth and sport (Y+S), the promotion of voluntary school sports and the support of sports organizations. It also covers the construction, renovation and maintenance of sports facilities. This is what the government council wrote in the message published on Friday.

Around two thirds of the expenditure from the Swisslos Sports Fund flows into the sports infrastructure, of which by far the largest share goes to the municipalities. In order to ensure the efficient use of scarce cantonal funds, the coordination of sports infrastructure between the canton and the municipalities as well as between the municipalities is to be strengthened.

The cantonal government wants to make financial support contributions to sports organizations such as associations, clubs or competitive sports centers dependent on their commitment to the principles of fair and safe sport and ensuring the physical and psychological well-being of athletes.

Canton can support projects directly

The Sports Act should create the possibility of supporting projects of particular cantonal interest with funds from the cantonal treasury if necessary, if the Swisslos Sports Fund is unable to provide sufficient funds, as the cantonal government further proposes.

The canton of Aargau does not yet have its own sports law. Today, the promotion of sport is regulated in two ordinances. However, the cantonal government wants to follow the principle of the cantonal constitution, according to which "all important provisions" are to be enacted in the form of a law. 19 other cantons already have a sports law.

Following deliberations in the Grand Council, the sports law is set to come into force on January 1, 2026.

SDA