ZDK Government to Increase Sports Budget from Two to Five Million KM Next Year

(Patria) - The Government of Zenica-Doboj Canton (ZDK) plans to increase the sports budget from two to five million KM next year, announced Prime Minister Nezir Pivić at a press conference.

The amount of 2,000,000 KM for supporting the work of sports clubs and organizing sports events will be allocated in 2025, as it was this year, and an additional 3,000,000 KM will be directed towards financing the work of sports clubs of special importance for local communities and the construction of sports infrastructure.

- We witness that in ZDK we do not have such a large number of Premier League teams, we do not have such a large number of sports collectives, and we are aware that this is more of an obligation of local communities. Certain local communities have success, but certain local communities in the canton do not provide such great support for the development of sports.

We are aware that certain sports collectives that were brands of certain cities are, unfortunately, in lower competition tiers, so as the ZDK Government, we believe we should provide more decisive support for the development of sports - said Pivić.

He reminded that after taking office in October last year, they initiated many processes, striving to improve the status of public sector employees, then the construction of the new Cantonal Hospital Zenica, and the continuation of the construction of the Main City Highway in Zenica.

And now it is time to review the state of sports, i.e., the future financing of this important segment of social life.

Pivić stated that they had prepared ideas for greater support for sports development earlier, but did not want to present them during the election campaign.

He emphasized that stronger support for sports will be visible through the planned, significantly larger funds, and is also contained in the document of the Program Framework for Joint Action of Political Parties Operating in the ZDK Government.

- With this, we are approaching the one percent of the budget that we will allocate for sports. What is also important to emphasize, through parliamentary work, we will prepare the implementation of this project in a way that we will take care of sports collectives that are significant for each local community and provide maximum support to those sports collectives that need to make a certain breakthrough - said Pivić.

Minister of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport Mirza Mušija said that sports results are not something this canton can particularly boast about, but it is important for ZDK to be better represented through sports results.

- A few years ago, allocations for sports at the cantonal level were significantly lower - barely exceeding 1,000,000, then they were increased to 1,600,000 KM, and last year to 2,000,000 KM.

However, even those two million are not enough for what we want to achieve in the canton, so in the next budget request, which we as a ministry have, we plan to increase the 2,000,000 KM by another 3,000,000 KM, so that we ultimately have 5,000,000 KM for sports - emphasized Minister Mušija.

He announced that this money will be transferred to cities and municipalities, all with the aim of sports collectives achieving results and involving as many young people as possible in their work, while in cities that do not have a tradition, they will strive to invest in infrastructure development.

Deputy Speaker of the ZDK Assembly Goran Bulajić, a former athlete and active sports worker, emphasized that he is pleased to witness "a more responsible approach to sports from the executive authorities".

- This sends a message that, no matter how much local communities invest in sports collectives and individuals, and sports in general, it is very difficult to expect significant results with funds focused only on the basic survival of clubs, paying registration fees, and possibly purchasing some modest equipment.

In this way, we will send a message that clubs will receive funds and that ZDK is a place where athletes can continue their professional engagement, education, and professional progress - stated Bulajić, announced by the ZDK Press Service.