Government Pledges Equal Access to Sport with ISK 1.8bn Boost

2026-02-12 - 12:08

New agreements aimed at strengthening sports participation and elite training across Iceland have been signed by the Minister of Education, Children and Sports, Inga Sæland. As reported by mbl.is, the five agreements, worth approximately ISK 1.8 billion in total, were concluded with Íþrótta- og Ólympíusamband Íslands (ÍSÍ), Ungmennafélag Íslands (UMFÍ), and the Icelandic Sports Association for the Disabled. What's the Story? Five agreements worth approximately ISK 1.8 billion signed by Inga Sæland with Íþrótta- og Ólympíusamband Íslands, Ungmennafélag Íslands and Icelandic Sports Association for the Disabled Funding aimed at improving access to sport nationwide, including rural areas and support for elite and disabled athletes Agreements described by the minister as a “huge step” for the sports movement across the country Snapshot from a previous match. Photo: Golli. Funding for inclusion The stated aim is to improve access to sport nationwide, particularly in rural areas, and to strengthen support for high-performance athletes. “This is a huge step for our sports movement across the country,” Inga said in an interview with mbl.is. She added: “We are touching on almost everything with this agreement that concerns disabled children, youth and our elite athletes.” The minister, who recently took office, said the agreements mark “the beginning of a bright future” and highlighted cooperation with ÍSÍ president Willum Þór Þórsson. Addressing economic barriers, she stated: “We are seeing children who have been able to participate in training with their local club, but when it comes to competitive trips and other things like that, there are no funds at home to pay for these trips. This should not happen.”