On Wednesday 29 June 2016, the Luxembourg Minister of Sports, Romain Schneider, and his staff welcomed the President of the Comité Olympique et Sportif Luxembourgeois (COSL), André Hoffmann and a delegation at the National Sports Institute.
Discussions focused on a variety of topics, beginning with the presence of a strong Luxembourg delegation of 9 to 11 athletes at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in August. The COSL expressed its gratitude for the government's support both in the context of the Olympic preparation of athletes and in terms of logistical support on the Rio site.
Regarding the Luxembourg presence at the Paralympic Games in September 2016, also being held in Rio, the Ministry of Sports and the COSL agreed to closely consult with the Luxembourg Paralympic Committee (LPC) to provide the best possible support to grand ducal participation in these games.
As part of the final development of the state budget for the 2017 fiscal year, the Minister endorsed the COSL's concerns for the implementation of initial concrete measures for an integrated sport concept in Luxembourg, developed by the COSL two years' prior, whilst the COSL highlighted the importance of sport in society and its consequent impact.
Ongoing efforts in this regard, particularly in monitoring the priorities of the Luxembourg Presidency of the EU during the second half of 2015 regarding dual career and integration through sport, or even sports awareness throughthe Nation Branding initiative, have been followed by the COSL.
However, the COSL expressed its regret at the fact that it has been repeatedly turned down for increased support from the Œuvre Grande-Duchesse Charlotte - a request which it stated it would soon be raising.
The COSL and the Ministry of Sports welcomed, on the other hand, their joint constructive cooperation which has led to the development of new Grand Ducal regulation projects revising sports medical examinations and allocating new subsidies in the interest of sports associations for their work serving youth.
Regarding the promotion of elite sport, notable through the establishment of a future Luxembourg National Olympic and Sports Centre, COSL welcomed recent developments in which it has been involved, concerning mainly the coordination of the project between all relevant partners and stakeholders. The COSL also reaffirmed its hope of strengthening its structures in the short term, in the interest of federations, through the commitment of appropriate additional staff.
The Ministry of Sports and the COSL welcomed the provision of additional space in the interest of federations at the Maison des Sports following joint steps taken recently.
Photo by Ministry of Sports
