Peštek: Who is blocking the law on sports in the Federation of BiH, which directly concerns more than 100,000 registered athletes!?

Written by: Enes Peštek, delegate of the Party for BiH in the House of Peoples of the FBiH

The Draft Law on Sports of the Federation of BiH was submitted on January 26, 2024, and after consideration in the House of Peoples of the Parliament of the Federation of BiH, it was sent to public consultation. More than a year and six months have passed without any public feedback, without announcements, analysis of consultation results, or steps toward adopting the proposed law.

The Law on Sports concerns more than 100,000 registered athletes, sports workers, and hundreds of clubs operating in a legal vacuum or under uncoordinated regulations.

There is no information about the public consultation, no reports, no proposed law.

Athletes, coaches, and sports workers from across the Federation, tens of thousands of them, continue to operate under conditions of legal uncertainty and unregulated relations.

It is evident that this Law lacks:

- Mechanisms for athlete protection (health insurance, career transition),

- A strategy for the development of women's sports, inclusive sports, and sports for persons with disabilities,

- Provisions on combating doping and violence,

- Incentives for sponsors (e.g., tax breaks for private investors in sports).

I want to believe that the public consultation of all institutions involved in creating and drafting this draft law will recognize the previous shortcomings in the draft law and incorporate the above, which we will certainly act upon through delegate amendments to supplement the law when it is submitted in the form of a proposed law to the parliamentary procedure.

This law should bring order, legal certainty, and fair financing to sports. Instead, complete silence.

The logical question arises: who is blocking a law that directly concerns thousands of athletes, and a law that promotes the socialization of our society by building a healthy nation?

Sports in the Federation are not a hobbyist pastime; it is a serious social system that deserves a serious law.

It is time to finally move forward!"