Many parents cannot pay: – Children should not suffer if someone cannot afford it

– We look after each other, not only as teammates, but we are also friends, says 13-year-old Mert Emi Cirak in the floodlights at Hasle-Løren Sports Club. Mert Emi Cirak dreams of playing for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Photo: Usman Ali / news And the club will look after everyone. So that everyone can participate regardless of whether they can afford it or not. – Children shouldn’t suffer if someone can’t afford it, says Viggo Anthonsen, who is both coach and chairman of Hasle-Løren. Big problem in the whole of Oslo But it is not just in Hasle-Løren IL that they notice that more families are less able to afford it. – We have sports teams in Oslo now where over 50 per cent of the parents cannot pay, says Magne Brekke in the Oslo sports circle. So that it does not affect the children, the clubs receive support from several places. Both the municipality, the state, the districts and various funds. General secretary of the Oslo sports circle Magne Brekke says that even in clubs where it is very cheap to participate, there are many who cannot pay. Photo: Usman Ali / news But there is a jungle of different arrangements, and the circle wants a solution where they distribute more of the money themselves. – We know where the shoe presses, says Brekke. They believe the clubs should focus on training and activities, not applications and forms. – Schemes where clubs and parents have to apply together can be reminiscent of a poor fund, says Brekke. It is stigmatizing, he believes. He says the sport itself already has good models for distributing money to the clubs that need it most. Sports teams like Hasle-Løren should get much more support without starting to count children and report on children, Oslo sports circle believes. Photo: Usman Ali / news The government is betting on simple arrangements In February, the Minister of Culture and Equality told VG that the profit from Norsk Tipping of 100 million will be given to the broadside clubs. – We understand sports’ need for funds that they can easily obtain and use where it is most needed, says Anette Trettebergstuen (Ap) to news. The minister says they are working to find a simple way to distribute the money. And that how that solution will be will be ready in May. – It is very important that children and young people continue to play sports, even now when we experience that things are becoming more expensive, says Culture and Equality Minister Anette Trettebergstuen (Ap). Photo: Snorre Tønset / Snorre Tønset/news Trying to help everyone Viggo Anthonsen in Hasle-Løren divides the group into two before training. But is concerned that there should be no separation between the children otherwise. Every week, Viggo Anthonsen trains 160 children. One team every day, seven days a week. He knows the names of all the players. Photo: Usman Ali / news Last year was the first time that Hasle-Løren used up all the money they received from the district. It has never happened before. – It wasn’t like that a few years ago. There are perhaps more people who can’t afford it, says Anthonsen. The club is based in the district of Bjerke, where all the sports teams receive NOK 200,000 each from the district a year. The club was also able to cover the excesses of the district, but still believes that it is a challenging situation. The football dream must be allowed to live – It is incredibly important that we continue to receive the support we receive, and perhaps that it is also increased. Because I don’t think it’s a problem that will go away, says Anthonsen. He would like to keep the dreams of his players alive. And right now almost everyone on the team dreams of becoming a football professional, he says. – I want to become a professional footballer, but I know that it is very difficult, says Noah Lilleaasen. Noah Lilleaasen’s (13) favorite player is Reece James at Chelsea. Photo: Usman Ali / news Do you have a tip? Hi! Do you recognize yourself in this case, or would you like to advise me on something else. Feel free to do so!



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