The Secretary of State for Youth and Sports wants to urgently meet with the supplier Santa Casa da Misericordia de Lisboa (SCML) due to cuts in sports, a year before Paris 2024, the minister said this Wednesday.
“SCML has informed the federations that it is reviewing its sponsorship plan for sporting events and is preparing to reduce support for these events,” wrote Joao Paulo Correia on his Twitter page.
The sports federations have been notified by letters signed by provider Anna Jorge, who took up her duties at SCML on May 2.
According to several emails that Lusa had access to, it is about a review of the “sponsorship plan for 2023”, which also warned that sponsorship on behalf of the Santa Casa Games, for the most part, in addition to current contracts are not guaranteed.
“This is a policy of support that fully fulfills the mission of SCML based on the respective social role of sport. On the other hand, this decision was announced less than a year before the Olympic and Paralympic Games, which has a greater impact on the sector”, continued Joao Paulo Correia.
In this sense, the official also announced, via the social network Twitter, a request for a meeting with Ana Jorge: “Given the alarming decision of the SCML, I will request an urgent meeting with the Ombudsman this morning.”
The rationale for this reduction is due to the “current economic and social situation” which has placed “new social and financial demands on SCML in regards to supporting the most vulnerable.”
“The financial implications of this new reality have forced SCML to rethink projects and step up responses in the face of growing demand for the services provided by Misericórdia de Lisboa. Accompanied by a significant loss of revenue from state social games, the current budgetary situation, what the institute is going through cannot be ignored, ”says one of the letters sent to several Olympic federations.
Ana Jorge is confident that these sports organizations will “understand” the “difficult decision for the reasons given”, not ruling out “possibly reassessing this situation in the future if assumptions change”.
“Supporting national sports, sports talent and major national events remains one of the main goals of Jogos Santa Casa, who are pursuing a sponsorship strategy that turns partnerships into concrete tools for inclusion and social cohesion,” you can read in turn on the official website of Jogos Santa Casa.
On the same website, SCML believes that “sport plays a critical role in combating exclusion and discrimination and in promoting a more egalitarian, inclusive and just society.” .
The numbers leave no room for doubt and there are already many organizations and athletes who have benefited from this support, focusing on the work being done in Olympic, Paralympic and Deaflympic walking, while not forgetting the development of adapted sports and the growth of women’s sports,” adds SCML on your website.
Among the organizations supported by Jogos Santa Casa, according to the list published on its website, are the Portuguese Olympic Committee (COP), the Portuguese Paralympic Committee (CPP), the Portuguese Sports Confederation (CDP), equestrian federations, motorsports, handball, athletics, canoeing, cycling, football, gymnastics, judo, swimming, skating, rowing, rugby, surfing, table tennis, triathlon, volleyball and sports for people with disabilities.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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