Sports infrastructure
Sports facilities and areas for outdoor sports include: sports centres, sports facilities, training areas and facilities and outdoor sports venues.
Public facilities are owned by the state or municipalities and are listed in the register of public sports facilities and recreational venues.
Objectives in the field of sports infrastructure
The National Sports Programme 2026-2035 sets as its objective modern, energy-efficient, climate-resilient, efficiently used and universally accessible infrastructure that supports all levels of sporting activity – from top-level sport to recreation, sport for children and young people, and sport for older adults.
Continuous development and investment in public sports infrastructure, enables the implementation of all key objectives and programmes of sporting activities of the entire population – from top-level and competitive sport to sport for health, recreation, sport for children and young people, and sporting activities for older adults.
High-quality, safe and accessible infrastructure is the foundation for the systematic development of all forms of sport and encourages an active and healthy lifestyle among the population. Sports infrastructure also plays an important role in the broader social context. In many smaller local communities, sports halls and facilities are the central venue for events – in addition to sporting activities, they also host cultural, educational and social events. In this way, sports infrastructure goes beyond its basic function and becomes a hub of social life, bringing people together and enhancing the quality of life within the community.
Co-financing of sports infrastructure
Investments in public sports infrastructure are, as a rule, co-financed through calls for public tenders. The assessment takes into account the criteria set out in the Sports Act, in particular, accessibility for all residents, existing infrastructure, the value of the investment and the possibility of use for multiple sports.
In the past three years, from 2023 to 2025, we have co-financed 308 investments totalling 68 million euros, with the overall value of these investments exceeding 243 million euros. This means that new sports parks, renovated halls and playgrounds, and modernised facilities are springing up all over Slovenia, where children, recreational athletes, sportspeople and entire communities meet every day. Each new sports hall means more opportunities for sport in smaller towns; each renovated park provides a safe environment for children to play and be active; each playground creates a space where friendship and community are strengthened. These are not merely concrete and steel structures, but investments in people's quality of life.
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Number of co-financed investments
308
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Total value of co-financing by ministry
68 million euros
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Total investments value
243 million euros
Swimming Pool (2024) and Padel Court (2025) in the Municipality of Šmarje pri Jelšah | Author Tomaž Žnider
Sports infrastructure was co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the following periods:
- 2004–2006: 11.824.595 euros
- 2007–2013: 86.189.586 euros
Sports infrastructure is not included in the 2014–2020 and 2021–2027 programmes, therefore, cohesion funds are no longer available for this area.
Planica Nordic Center | Author Blaž Oman
Network of public sports facilities and outdoor sports venues
Public sports facilities and outdoor sports venues are owned by the state or local communities. Since 1 March 2025, the criteria for planning the construction of new or upgrading existing public sports infrastructure are regulated by the Rules on the determination of the network of public sports facilities and outdoor sports venues, including the assessment of investments that exceed local significance or are implemented as inter-municipal projects.