The Slovak Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe, situated in a mild climate zone with four distinct seasons. Citizens can practise a variety of sports and recreational activities throughout the entire year. Summer sports are very popular, and a great range of activities are available. The most popular Slovak summer sports are: football, tennis, volleyball, swimming, basketball, table tennis, cyclo-camping, jogging and hiking. Favourable natural conditions provide perfectly ground for winter sports such as cross-country and downhill skiing, hiking, skating and snowboarding. Indoor swimming pools and sports stadiums are accessible all year round. Football, volleyball, basketball and tennis are fastest developing sports activities. Slovak spectators enjoy mostly football, ice hockey and tennis. In recent years, a number of non-traditional sports have increased among the younger population.

Sports Legislation

The Slovak sports sector was centralized until 1989, oriented on a unified, nation-wide programme of sports. After the political changes of November 1989 a process of democratisation and decentralisation of sports organisations, new policy on physical education and relations concerning non-governmental sports organisations was regulated by the Act No.173/1990 of The Federal Assembly of Czech and Slovak Federative Republic in 1990, which replaced the Act No. 68/1956 on Organisation Physical Education and set up some of other relations with regard to volunteering sports organisations.

Today, sport in Slovakia is characterised by the partnership between governmental and non-governmental organisations at all levels. Nation-wide, regional and local levels recognise the transfer of competences to self-governing authorities.

The base for this co-operation was laid out in 1990 when theNational Council of the Slovak Republic approved the Act on Physical Culture No. 198/1990. This Act defined the responsibilities of sports organisations and state authorities in sport throughout Slovakia. In 1997 the new Slovak National Council Act No. 288/1997 on Physical Culture was approved, which also included articles on educational and commercial activities in sport. By passing the Act on State Funding of Physical Culture No. 264/1993 the Slovak National Council approved financing of sport through lottery funds in 1993.

In 1992, the Slovak National Council approved the Act on Public Sport and Tourist Events No. 315/1992, appointing the necessary measures to prevent violence at sporting events.

In 1993, Slovakia ratified Council of Europe conventions - European Convention on Spectator Violence and Misbehaviour at Sport Events and in particular at Football Matches, the European Sport Charter and Anti-doping Convention.

In 1994 the Slovak National Council approved the use and protection of all Olympic symbols and the Slovak Olympic Committee Law No. 226/1994. Many other legislative documents as well as regulations and decrees of the Slovak government are related to the field of sport.

During the year 2005 there were several drafts of new act on sports. The proposed act was not put forward to discussion of the parliament, because of different opinions regarding its content among governmental and non-governmental organisations.

Finally a new legal document on sport came into force in 2008, when the Slovak National Council approved the Act on Organisation and Support of Sports No. 300/2008. It gives legal shape of state responsibilities for: supporting top-level and elite sports, taking care on talented athletes and doing sports by children in schools after school lessons, as well as organising preparation of top-level athletes in order to build-up a Slovak national sports team, taking measures against doping in sports, setting out status of the Slovak Anti-doping Agency, arbitrating sports disputes, creating and managing information system in public sports sector.

In the same year, 2008 Slovak National Council approved also the Act on Organising Public Physical Events, Sports Events and Tourist Events, which sets out responsibilities of organisers and stewards of public sports events. It is also dealing with appropriate training of stewards providing by accredited education institutions, spectators duties and prohibitions, responsibilities of municipalities and police forces of the Slovak Republic.

State and Self-Administration

The central authority of state administration responsible for sport is the Directorate General for ­State Sport Care of the Slovak Ministry of Education. National sport policy is submitted and governed ­through this office. The main responsibilities of the sports department include the support of all national teams, international co-operation, sports legislation, co-operation with non-governmental organisations and nation-wide issues on sport for all. Other responsibilities include providing grants to sports associations from the state budget.

In 2004, there was established the National Sport Center, by joining together the Center of Academic Sport and the National Institution of Sport. The National Sport Center is a government funded institution under the Ministry of Education it supports the development of high performance sport in Slovakia.

There are three main areas: support of top athletes, education of sports experts, and services in information technologies.

The National Sports Center provides and supports nation-wide non-formal and informal education of sports experts, administrates the sport information system, and supports preparation and diagnostic monitoring of Slovak top-level athletes.

 There are also centers of top-level athletes within Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Interior which help to develop the Slovak top-level sports.

Since 2002 the competences have consistently been transferred from central to local level authorities in accordance with the Slovak decentralisation policy. Particularly to regional and local self-administrations which take care on sport for all, sport infrastructure, school sport, and partly on the preparation of talented youth.

 

Non-Governmental Sport Organisations

The Slovak non-governmental sport sector is typified by a great number of organisations which have been formed on voluntary basis since1989. The main part of the property previously used for sports by the former Czechoslovak Union of Physical Education went to the Slovak Association of Physical Culture. The property of the former Zväzarm was redistributed to the Slovak Union of Technical and Sports Activities. Other parts of the property went to reestablished sport organisations, e.g. Sokol, Orol. Remaining property is gradually being acquired by organisations which have used it for practising sport, e.g.municipalities, sport clubs and some sport federations.

One of the accompanying phenomenon of the society transformation is the excessive dependence of non-governmental sports organisations on state budget and public funds.

New legislation so far does not provide adequate conditions for these organisa­tions to gain financial independence.

At present, the most important nation-wide non-governmental sport organisations are national sport federations which are responsible for development of their appropriate sport and selected national teams. Their rights and responsibilities are regulated by the Act on organisation and support of sports No. 300/2008.

In addition to nation-wide sport federations there are also organisations which provide services to sport federations or other associations with nation-wide competence. The best known are the Confederation of Slovak Sport Federations, the Slovak Sport for all Association, the Association of Sports Clubs of the Slovak Republic, the Slovak Sport Union, the Association of Technical and Sporting Activities of the Slovak Republic, and others. The specific task of the Slovak Olympic Committee is to arrange the participation of the national team at the Olympics, as well as to spread the ideals of the Olympic movement.

There are special associations which have sport-wide impact, such as the Slovak Anti-doping Agency, the Slovak Scientific Society for Physical Education and Sports, the Slovak Society of Sports and Olympic Philately, the Slovak Society of Sport Medicine, The Sport Journalist Association of Slovakia, and The Society of Sport Psychology.

 

Athletes with disabilities have many associations on a national level, such as the Section of Blind and Weak Sighted Sportsmen of Slovakia, The Slovak
Association of Deaf Sportsmen, The Slovak Sports Association for People with Mental Handicaps, The Slovak Sports Association for the Disabled. With relation to the Paralympic movement, Slovakia is represented by the Slovak Paralympic Committee.

On a regional and local level there are about 4,000 sport clubs and associations which provide appropriate conditions for practising all kind of sports.

 

Sport in Schools

Physical education (PE) is a compulsory subject in primary and secondary schools. There are two PE lessons per week. As optional courses, swimming and skiing are part of PE lessons. There are also sport activities accessible to pupils after school lessons.

According to State Education Programme headmasters have possibilities to increase the number of PE lessons per week within quotas of optional subjects given in their school education programmes.

PE at universities is not compulsory, but students at most universities may choose PE as an optional subject, and a variety of sports activities.

Non-governmental associations involved in school sport are The Slovak School Sport Association and The Slovak University Sport Association. They are members of international federations - The International School Sport Federation and The International Federation of University Sport. National sports federations cooperating with schools strive to improve the participation of young people in sport and sport related activities, particularly in national and international sports competitions.

Education and Training in Sport

Education and training of professionals and voluntary administrators in sport is regulated by the Act on Physical Culture No. 288/1997 and the Act on Commercial Activity No 455/1991.

Announcement of the Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic on Accreditation Commission in the Field of Physical Culture and Single Education System (SES) of Sports Experts sets up particulars about composition and operation of above mentioned accreditation commission. This legal document also appoints proceedings on issuing accreditation license, terms and conditions of obtaining qualification for running specialised activities in field of physical culture.

Impulse for putting into practice Single Education System (SES) of sports experts is European Union five-level qualification system of education for trainers. The aim of creating the Single Education System (SES) in Slovakia is to provide a transparent and compatible education system in field of sport which is in compliance with European Union system of education of sports experts.

Most comprehensive education and training of sport experts within formal system
of education is provided by four universities, more precisely by six different faculties. These faculties offer academic education in coaching, physical education, and ­specialisations such as sports management, journalism, sports for athletes with ­disabilities. After graduating students obtain two highest academic degree (Bachelor and Master) - two highest levels of qualification (4 and 5) within Single Education System (SES).

Sports bodies and organisations with valid accreditation license issued by the Ministry of Education is eligible to provide only further education and training within non-formal education. It means that they can certify only lower qualifications (1 - 3) within 5-level qualification scale given in Single Education System (SES).

Further education and training of sports experts is also provided by the National Sport Centre.

 

International Cooperation

International cooperation in field of sports is governed by governmental institutions, local authorities as well as by national sport federations. Within national federations, Slovakia is represented, by some of its officials, in executive bodies of international sports federations. On the highest governmental level there are also appointed officials who represent Slovakia in working groups and bodies within European Union and Council of Europe.

The Ministry of Education of the Slovak Republic - Directorate General for Sport is the highest governmental body in charge of sports matters on national level. It is responsible for approximation of national, legal documents with European Union legislation and through inter-governmental agreements it provides international co-operation in sport including the exchange of experts and information.

 

Sport Finance

Sport financing in the Slovak Republic depends on results and achievements of the particular sport on international competitions and at the same time on the level of importance for the public. Direct financing of sports activities prevails in sport for all. It is carried out by the public, particularly by citizens who do sports in their spare time, municipalities and regional authorities. On the level of national teams the major funding comes from public sources, mostly from state budget. Each sport association and federation makes up its budget from several resources: membership fees, revenues from its activities, and the most popular sports make a certain profit from commercial sponsorship.

The main principle of governmental financial support which is provided through General Directorate for State Sport Care of the Ministry of Education is a project funding. It is based on particular requirements which are set out by Directorate in collaboration with non-governmental sports organisation. Most important criteria for obtaining state grant is the contribution of these projects to public and whole society as well. Sports organisations and bodies can submit project in order to get a state grant in these ­categories: Sport for All, National Teams, Sports Talented Youth, Assistance to Non-governmental Sports Organisations and Project Co-ordination and International Co-operation in sports.

Within eleven year period Slovak Government financially supports sport sector with approximately 33 mil. € per year.