The President of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, Mihai Covaliu, stated on Monday that national sports federations are suffering financially during this period and that he expects the Government to pay attention to sports first and foremost in order to identify solutions to overcome the problems.

„It is truly a difficult period, things are not at all as we want, as they should be, but this is the period. From sport we have learned that we must adapt to the conditions we find. Together with the National Agency for Sports, we sat down at the table and at least so far we have managed to find solutions to the more difficult situations that the federations are going through. But a very intense end of the year is coming, the qualifications for the Winter Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo have begun, then 2026, the year of Nadia Comaneci, and everything that means sport will take place under the auspices of this very important event. The world must understand that sport is not something that happens from time to time, that someone wants to do sports more or less. No, it is a continuous activity, an activity at an international level. And if Nadia is the most famous athlete in Romania, then we here in Romania have the obligation, at least in 2026, when the 50th anniversary of a historical moment that Nadia marked for the entire Olympic movement, to do what needs to be done.

„We must honor Nadia Comaneci at the highest level. And of course, in 2027 the European Youth Olympic Festival for winter sports will be held in the Bra?ov area. Again, we have this duty to have the conditions that these children expect to find here to compete,” Covaliu said.

Asked if he expects sports to receive a budget increase in the Government’s budget rectification, Covaliu said that he first wants attention so that solutions can be identified to solve the problems.

„Some federations are already suffering, because things are not at all right there. We are waiting, we hope that first and foremost attention will be found. Because solutions, if we sit down at the table, will certainly be identified. But first and foremost we must discuss, dialogue, because only in this way can we reach a common denominator and find solutions. Maybe good for some, maybe less good for others, but everyone understands this moment and only through dialogue and an open debate can we identify solutions,” he added.

The COSR president also brought to attention the problems at the Romanian Athletics Federation, after no athlete reached the finals at the World Championships in Tokyo.

„The moment you don’t win any finals or medals, it means there are problems. Not only in athletics, but also in other sports disciplines. People need to understand, the presidents of federations, the coaches, that things have changed, that sports science has evolved, that training methods are constantly changing and if they don’t take these measures that others have taken, and I’m referring to training techniques, artificial intelligence, if we don’t implement these tools, we have no way of performing. I convey this every time and I believe that in the end they will understand,” Covaliu emphasized.

Romanian sports are going through a real financial crisis and several federations have had empty accounts for several months, relying on the support of the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee, on money from the private sector or even from the athletes’ parents to be able to send them to international competitions.

The President of the National Agency for Sports, Bogdan Matei, declared, in an interview for AGERPRES, that a maximum of 12 national sports federations, out of a total of 69, will receive additional funding in the budget rectification, which will be made by the Government in two to three weeks.

COSR President Mihai Covaliu participated, on Monday, together with ANS President Bogdan Matei and athletes such as David Popovici, Amalia Lica, Catalin Chirila, Narcisa Lecusanu, Alina Dumitru, Otilia Badescu, Paula Ivan, Ioana Vrinceanu, Virgil Stanescu, Ionut Rada, Lacramioara Perijoc or Claudia Nechita at an event organized on the occasion of the launch of the 10th edition of the Romania BeActive project – European Week of Sport.AGERPRES