From October 31, Resolving Difficulties in Operating Sports Facilities and Minimizing Citizen Inconvenience
Efficient and Rational Management through Deficit Financial Support, Facility-Specific Operational Improvements, and Cost Reduction
Busan City will minimize inconvenience to citizens by supporting improvements in the operation of public sports facilities, including the normal operation of the early childhood physical education group, to ensure the stable establishment of the expanded support policy for multi-child families, which has been in effect since October 31.
Due to difficulties in operating sports facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic and various issues raised recently with the expansion of support for multi-child families, the city has been continuously consulting with facility operators to find solutions.
On October 25, Busan City and related organizations held a working-level meeting to discuss in depth solutions to problems through stable and normal operation of sports facilities following the expansion of support for multi-child families.
Participants agreed that financial support for losses, continuous consultations between the city and operators, and the preparation of additional improvement measures are necessary to minimize citizen inconvenience through the stable establishment of the system and normal operation of sports facilities.
Accordingly, the city will improve the operation of sports facilities through ▲financial support ▲management improvement ▲adjustment of facility maintenance reserve funds.
First, financial support will be promoted for independently managed sports facilities expected to face direct operational difficulties due to the implementation of the expanded support system for multi-child families. By supporting and compensating for operational losses caused by the city’s policy implementation, the city plans to normalize facility operations to maintain convenience and benefits for citizens.
Currently, multi-child family members receive a 50% discount when using sports facilities, but with the recent expansion of support, the number of eligible beneficiaries is expected to increase by about 3 to 4 times, which is anticipated to worsen the financial status of sports facilities.
This is expected to cause a sharp deterioration in the financial status of independently managed facilities and significantly impact programs for infants and young children, such as the early childhood physical education group. Therefore, the city plans to provide financial support for the deficit caused by the implementation of the expanded multi-child support system to ensure all programs within the facilities operate normally.
In the case of the Olympic Memorial National Life Center, facility maintenance is necessary due to safety issues caused by aging facilities. The city plans to complete repair work in 2024 to secure facility safety and continue operating programs such as the early childhood physical education group.
Additionally, the city will make efforts to increase revenue and reduce operating costs through program development, adjustment of operation frequency, workforce restructuring, and other operational adjustments to make facility management more efficient and rational.
Along with these self-help efforts, the city plans to resolve operational difficulties by lowering the preservation rate of facility maintenance reserve funds and using part of the reserves for operating expenses.
Mayor Park Hyung-jun stated, “Overcoming low birth rates through expanded support for multi-child families is a top priority in this era of low fertility, but citizens should not experience any inconvenience or disadvantages due to the system’s implementation,” adding, “Our city will proactively resolve difficulties to ensure citizens can use sports facilities without inconvenience and continue to uphold the policy direction of becoming a ‘City of Life Sports Paradise.’”
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