site.btaCabinet Approves National Programme for Shared Funding of Sport Investment Projects

At its weekly meeting on Wednesday, the Council of Ministers approved a National Programme for Shared Funding of Sport Investment Projects, Youth and Sports Minister Dimitar Iliev told a briefing. The BGN 10 million programme will support the construction and the renovation of state and municipal sport facilities.

The funding will not be allocated on purely subjective grounds, which, according to Iliev, used to be common practice. The bids will be assessed according to clear and transparent criteria such as number of inhabitants in the respective area, number of children practicing sports, number of schools and universities, and number of sport clubs.

Programme beneficiaries are expected to provide 50% of the funding for their projects, which will improve the public investment pattern, Iliev said, adding that "shared funding" is the watch phrase.

Discussing elite athletes, the minister said their training allowances will be raised by 27%, and those for their coaches will be upped by 15%.