Commentary by ISCA president Mogens Kirkeby

On 3rd of April 2008, the European Parliament adopted a report on the White Paper on Sport from the Committee on Culture and Education. The report supports state monopoly in gamling and lotteries in order to ensure the funding of sport and culture.

“It is refreshing that the MEP’s now state that ensuring the funding for sport and culture is very important, - so important that they support that state monopoly on gambling and lotteries should be maintained. This is a positive signal for the sport for all sector, which relies on public co-funding” says ISCA president Mogens Kirkeby.

The report from the Committee on Culture and Education states;
"Sport organisations have many sources of income, including club fees and ticket sales, advertising and sponsorship, media rights, re-distribution of income within the sport federations, merchandising, public support, etc. However, gambling and lotteries are also an important source of revenue, mainly for amateur sport. It is therefore important that the state monopoly be maintained in this sector in order to ensure the funding of sport and culture".

See the statement from the European Parliament:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/expert/infopress_page/037-25315-091-03-14-906-20080331IPR25314-31-03-2008-2008-false/default_en.htm

See the report on the White Paper from the Committee on Culture and Education:
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meetdocs/2004_2009/documents/pr/696/696668/696668en.pdf