Finansowanie sportu profesjonalnego w Polsce przez samorządy terytorialne

Abstract

Professional sports (especially team sports, such as football, volleyball, handball, basketball, speedway and ice hockey) in Poland are financed with public funds. In particular, these funds are provided through communes, districts, Marshal Offices, and companies of the State Treasury. Providing financial support is done through granting subsidies (e.g. promoting the city through sport), purchasing shares or being the owner of a sports joint-stock company. This paper presents the legal basis for which municipal governments support professional sports. By using the case study method based on the example of sports clubs from various disciplines, the forms, methods and volume of public involvement in professional sports in our country have been shown. As a result of the conducted research, the model for financing professional sports in Poland, which differs from those existing in Western and Northern European countries, was emphasized because, in Poland, the pillars are public funds (from municipal governments). Moreover, the expansion and construction of sports infrastructure are carried out mainly with the participation of public funds (central and local). The further development of domestic sport and its professionalization will require greater market orientation of individual clubs.