Uncertain effect of leisure card: "Must try something new"

The Government is investing hundreds of millions on a leisure card to get more children to start exercising. But the Minister of Sports does not know if it has any effect. You can never be sure, but we must take new grips, says Jakob Forssmed (Christian Democrats).

» Published: August 08 2024

Uncertain effect of leisure card: "Must try something new"
Photo: Pontus Lundahl/TT

Share this article

The government has earmarked 730 million kronor this year for a digital leisure card for all young people between the ages of 8 and 16. The card is intended to pay for children's leisure activities.

The government proposes both a general card of 500 kronor per year and child, and a special leisure card of 2,000 kronor distributed in the same way. The higher amount is intended for households that have a slightly worse financial situation with so-called preliminary housing allowance.

On site in Paris

Minister of Sports Jakob Forssmed has been at the Olympic Games in Paris for the past two days and has praised the two gold medalists Armand Duplantis and Sarah Sjöström.

They mean a lot to Sweden, not least as role models for Swedish children and young people and to attract more to club sports, says Forssmed at an event in Paris organized by the Swedish Olympic Committee.

However, the leisure card proposed by the government has an unclear effect, according to the government's own memorandum. It is not certain that the million investment will lead to more children engaging in sports.

You can never be fully sure. But we can't keep doing the same thing we've always done and expect a different result. Instead, we need to take new approaches to get those who are not involved in sports and associations to join, says the minister.

Now we're doing something different than, for example, in Norway, where they give the same amount to everyone. We don't do that, we give four times as much to those who are economically vulnerable. And then we believe it has an effect.

However, the government's memorandum shows that when evaluating trials with similar cards in Norway and Iceland, they have primarily been used by households with good economies.

Several risks exist

Part of the costs for the leisure card goes to purely administrative tasks. Guardians will have to apply for the card in a special e-service at the E-health Agency and the Social Insurance Agency will build a register of approved providers. This is estimated to cost around 250 million kronor annually.

We will do everything we can to press down the administrative costs, says Jakob Forssmed.

Respondents have also pointed out the risk of the card being exploited by criminals.

There are always risks when building this type of system. But we have already changed to minimize that type of risk. There are barriers, for example, that you have to be an established association.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Swedish Foreign Minister Affirms Genocide Principle Amid Gaza Concerns
2 MIN READ

Swedish Foreign Minister Affirms Genocide Principle Amid Gaza Concerns

Swedish Government Proposes Halving Food VAT from April
1 MIN READ

Swedish Government Proposes Halving Food VAT from April

Uppsala University Proposed for New Police Training Program
1 MIN READ

Uppsala University Proposed for New Police Training Program

Teen Acquitted of Rape by Court of Appeal in Lycksele Case
1 MIN READ

Teen Acquitted of Rape by Court of Appeal in Lycksele Case

Andersson Vows to Halt Gang Recruitment if Social Democrats Win
2 MIN READ

Andersson Vows to Halt Gang Recruitment if Social Democrats Win

Slussen Bus Terminal Opening Delayed to Autumn 2026
1 MIN READ

Slussen Bus Terminal Opening Delayed to Autumn 2026

SMHI Warns of Heavy Rain and Flood Risk in Götaland
1 MIN READ

SMHI Warns of Heavy Rain and Flood Risk in Götaland

Teen Sentenced for Attempted Murder in Eslöv Bus Stabbing
1 MIN READ

Teen Sentenced for Attempted Murder in Eslöv Bus Stabbing

15-Year-Old Killed in Stockholm Car Explosion Linked to Bomb Plot
1 MIN READ

15-Year-Old Killed in Stockholm Car Explosion Linked to Bomb Plot

Faulty Vaccine Storage in Dalarna May Have Reduced Effectiveness
1 MIN READ

Faulty Vaccine Storage in Dalarna May Have Reduced Effectiveness

Most Older Swedes Report Good Mental Health but Group Differences Exist
1 MIN READ

Most Older Swedes Report Good Mental Health but Group Differences Exist

Hagvidson Profits Millions While Rationing Butter at Preschools
1 MIN READ

Hagvidson Profits Millions While Rationing Butter at Preschools

Three Men Charged in Kramfors Stabbing Murder Case
1 MIN READ

Three Men Charged in Kramfors Stabbing Murder Case

Erik Sturegård Responds to Criticism of Sweden's Public Health Agency
1 MIN READ

Erik Sturegård Responds to Criticism of Sweden's Public Health Agency

Police Launch Major Operation in Linköping After Shooting Incident
1 MIN READ

Police Launch Major Operation in Linköping After Shooting Incident

Deposit on Cans and PET Bottles Doubles in Sweden
2 MIN READ

Deposit on Cans and PET Bottles Doubles in Sweden

Man Arrested After Explosion at Stockholm Apartment Building
1 MIN READ

Man Arrested After Explosion at Stockholm Apartment Building

Employment Service Monitors IP Addresses to Combat Benefit Fraud
1 MIN READ

Employment Service Monitors IP Addresses to Combat Benefit Fraud

Elderly Missing Man Found Dead in Västerås Forest
1 MIN READ

Elderly Missing Man Found Dead in Västerås Forest

Father and Sons Accused of Multi-Million Drug Sales in Uppsala
1 MIN READ

Father and Sons Accused of Multi-Million Drug Sales in Uppsala