This article analyzes the results of the Sasakawa Sports Foundation's survey on the actual state of sports promotion by municipalities nationwide.
Main Points
1. Organizational Restructuring of Sports Departments
- Transfer to head's department: 42.3% (15.2 percentage points increase from previous survey)
- Under education committee: 57.7% (declining trend)
- Establishment of specialized departments: 85% for municipalities with population over 100,000
- Number of staff: Average 4.8 people (15+ for large municipalities)
2. Regional Transfer of Club Activities
- Implementing/considering: 68.5% of municipalities
- Multi-department cooperation: 45% education committee + head's department
- Challenges: Securing instructors (89%), lack of financial resources (76%)
- Complete transfer target by FY2025: Only 15% expected to achieve
3. Management and Operation of Sports Facilities
- Designated manager system: 73.2% have introduced
- Aging countermeasures: 45% over 30 years old, insufficient renovation funds
- Usage fees: 35% implementing or considering price increases
- PPP/PFI utilization: 20% considering for major renovations
4. Regional Sports Promotion Measures
- Establishment of sports committees: 156 municipalities (13.1%)
- Health promotion projects: 95% implementing some type of project
- Disabled sports: Only 8% have dedicated staff
- International events/training camp attraction: Promoted through tourism cooperation
5. Future Policy Issues
- Securing financial resources: Breaking away from sports promotion lottery dependence
- Human resource development: Securing sports management talent
- Facility renewal: Improving efficiency through wide-area cooperation
- Outcome indicators: Improving residents' sports implementation rate
The article concludes that as sports administration expands its role from education to regional promotion and health enhancement, reforms in both organizational structure and financial resource security are urgent.