Vor-Corona-Niveau: Increase in Membership in Lower Saxony’s Sports Clubs
Lower Saxony, Germany – In 2023, around 80,000 new memberships were registered in sports clubs in Lower Saxony. This surge has helped overcome the decline in membership caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, stated by Sports Minister Daniela Behrens (SPD).
With more than 2.6 million members across approximately 9,100 clubs, about one-third of Lower Saxony’s population is actively involved in a sports club. The Lower Saxony Sports Report was unveiled in Hannover on Monday, emphasizing the integral role sports clubs play in the community, with the President of the Lower Saxony Sports Association (LSB), André Kwiatkowski, stating that the collective interest in sports continues to grow.
Behrens highlighted the unifying power of sports, especially in challenging times, with the upcoming major sporting events in 2024 such as the UEFA European Championship in Germany and the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris. The report also revealed that more children joined clubs last year, with football and gymnastics accounting for over half of the state’s club members.
However, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and its impact on energy supply posed a significant challenge, with the ministry disclosing that the state had allocated 30 million euros in energy assistance at the beginning of 2023. Furthermore, the floods at the end of 2023 caused damage to several sports facilities.
As Lower Saxony’s sports clubs continue to thrive and attract new members, the community spirit and sense of togetherness fostered through sports activities remain crucial, especially in times of adversity.
This article was reported by NDR 1 Niedersachsen on June 3, 2024, at 19:00 local time.