The Swedish government‘s promised leisure card for young people is delayed and will not be implemented until 2025. In the meantime, 200 million of the earmarked funds will be used to strengthen youth sports.
200 million kronor will now go to the Swedish Sports
For 2024, 730 million kronor has been earmarked for the digital leisure card for all young people between the ages of eight and 16 to pay for recreational activities. Of that amount, 200 million kronor will now go to the Swedish Sports Confederation.
“This is a very large investment in strengthening the capacity of the association’s activities,” said Social Minister Jakob Forssmed (KD).
The funds will be used to improve sports facilities, recruit and train new leaders, inform young people about sports activities, and purchase new equipment.
“We believe that more children will join the associations with the help of the leisure card, and there is also a need to try out equipment on site,” Forssmed said.
In addition, 32 million will go to the Swedish Arts Council to develop the cultural school, 22 million to the Agency for Youth and Civil Society Issues, MUCF, and 10 million to the Swedish Outdoor Association.
Another large portion of the 730 million kronor that was supposed to be used for the leisure card this year will be used to develop a robust system for the leisure card.
“It certainly costs a bit to develop this, but I am convinced that it is money well spent,” said Forssmed.
“We need a way to engage young people who do not have a leisure time with present adults where they get the chance to move,” he added.
Forssmed expects the leisure card to be introduced “during” 2025.