Draft law amending the Sports Act (518 SE) - first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th session, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-11-04 19:34
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 49
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 58m
AI Summaries: 49/49 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu held the first reading of draft law 518 amending the Sports Act, initiated by the Republic's Government. Minister of Culture Heidy Purga introduced the draft, emphasizing its lengthy preparation time (since 2022) and thorough involvement, including the Estonian Olympic Committee, sports federations, and local governments. The draft focuses on four main changes: raising the reimbursement limit for volunteer sports referees from 20 euros to 45 euros per day (an annual limit of 2340 euros), expanding the obligation to adhere to sports ethics rules (including rules against match-fixing and abuse) to athletes, coaches, support staff, and sports organizations, and establishing regulations for the recovery of grants in cases of violations. Furthermore, the regulations for organizing sporting events were updated, abolishing the requirement to apply for a permit for low-risk events, but strengthening security requirements for events with increased risk (such as auto and motorsport competitions). As smaller changes, the requirement for a development plan was abolished for smaller sports organizations applying for grants, and the requirement for a public competition was abolished when determining athlete scholarships. During the debate, questions were raised about the justification for a tenfold increase in fines (from 2000 euros to 20,000 euros), given that previous administrative proceedings have not been initiated, and there was discussion about whether financial limits should be stipulated at the level of the law. Consensus was reached on the draft within the Culture Committee, and all factions supported the conclusion of the first reading, particularly praising the comprehensive treatment of the topic of sports ethics.
Decisions Made 1
The first reading of Bill 518 has concluded. The deadline for submitting amendments is November 18, 2024, at 5:15 PM.
Most Active Speaker
The most active questioners were Vadim Belobrovtsev (Center Party faction, left) and Tõnis Lukas (Isamaa faction, right), who posed several questions regarding the concerns of local governments, fine amounts, and the expansion of anti-doping rules. However, the entire discussion centered around Minister of Culture Heidy Purga, who thoroughly answered all the questions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
As the fourth item on the agenda, the first reading of the Government-initiated draft law No. 518 amending the Sports Act will take place, with the presentation by Minister of Culture Heidy Purga.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
The amendments to the Sports Act have been prepared through broad involvement, and with the cooperation of the Estonian Olympic Committee, sport federations, and the participation of local governments, four main changes are envisaged: to increase the cap on reimbursement for voluntary sports referees to 45 euros; to clarify compliance with doping and sports ethics rules, and, in case of violations, to recover subsidies; to update the requirements for organizing sports events; and to simplify some individual issues (for example, the removal of the development plan requirement and the removal of the competition requirement for sports schools' scholarships). These changes will take effect mainly on January 1, 2025 (some provisions will take effect on April 1).
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi expresses pleasure that the audience has many questions, and asks Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti to present these questions.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart said that the draft bill would increase safety in motorsport by requiring a mandatory license application and a confirmation of compliance with the federation's requirements, and asked why, to date, different organizations have been allowed to organize competitions without these requirements, which may be related to numerous accidents and a lack of accountability.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
According to Purga, the Police and Border Guard Board can from now on provide organizers with additional security guidelines; affiliates themselves have highlighted this issue—this is very welcome and helps ensure the safety of athletes and spectators and increases turnout at the competitions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi summoned Vadim Belobrovtsev.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Belobrovtsev said that the bill is positive and that the Culture Committee has reached a principled, unanimous conclusion on it, but asked the minister whether a solution has been found to the concerns about increasing responsibility and workload due to the greater powers granted to municipalities as stated in the explanatory memorandum, and if so, what is that solution.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Purga noted that the bottlenecks of the largest local authorities have been discussed, and enough time is provided for the enactment of parts of the law so that the participation process and the cooperation between the Union of Cities and Municipalities and the sports federations would create solutions, and the processing of permits for sports events proceeds under the current regulation separately for each event, but the councils can establish additional regulations and conditions according to agreements.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi addressed Tõnis Lukas and asked him to take the floor.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
They said that successful sporting events provide participants and spectators with positive experiences, and in the event of violations the organizers should be punished harshly, but they asked why the law increases the fines for a legal entity from 2,000 to 20,000 euros, when so far no proceedings have been initiated at all on the basis of sports-law violations, which creates a contradiction.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Culture Minister Heidy Purga noted that there is no contradiction, and, referring to questions from previous colleagues, drew a parallel that in cases of motorsport violations an amendment to the law provides a basis for penalties for which there was no legal basis before.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This was a short prayer to Arvo Aller.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller raised the question of the proportionality of remuneration for judges' voluntary work and the need to harmonize the age limit with the Youth Work Act (up to 26 years old).
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
They promise to provide a written answer to this question later and note that in the explanatory letter this reservation is not addressed specifically, and there is a numerical confusion as to which age range in Estonia is understood as 'young'; therefore they cannot answer at present on the basis of the explanatory letter.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asked Lauri Laats.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats called the current compensation for referees a small trick, noting that if the daily fee rises from 20 euros to 45 euros, it is actually the clubs that pay it, and "up to 45" means the absence of an obligation, and he suggested that the state should contribute separately and raise the fee to 45 euros, so that the obligation would not fall on the clubs.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
The Minister of Culture, Heidy Purga, said that the aim of the draft is to increase the pay for voluntary sports referees and, in cooperation with sports clubs and representative organizations, to determine an average amount deemed optimal that does not significantly affect the state budget, brings social and economic benefits, and increases inclusion, taking into account that the pay could be higher than 45 euros, but the enforcement of obligations cannot be imposed on clubs.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvarti onto the stage.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
He emphasizes the need for better safety requirements in motorsport, but small-track owners fear that obtaining approval from the federation for each competition could be a means of generating extra income or excluding competitors, and he asks what measures have been considered to reassure them.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
As I said, the interests are always mutual, and this legal amendment provides an opportunity to regulate these interests more precisely and to overcome bottlenecks more quickly, in order to reach a common understanding, and in the future there should be fewer problems arising from this amendment.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi turned to Vadim Belobrovtsev and said: "Please."
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
They ask for an explanation of the clarifications to the anti-doping rules and ask what it means that these rules must be followed not only by athletes but also by coaches, sport referees, and background staff, and whether sport referees themselves may use doping.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
The speech emphasizes the importance of the international standards of the Anti-Doping Convention and its Code, as well as the requirements regarding the collection, retention, and disclosure of personal data, which in Estonia are in line with international norms.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi asks Arvo Alleri to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller posed a question regarding § 20(1) of the law concerning the permit required for organizing sporting events, and asked why football is associated only with UEFA Cup competitions, whether there are other cup competitions and under whose auspices they take place.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Purga said that there is currently no decision regarding the name of the specific title competition, and the development plan includes a proposal to replace the obligation to obtain permission to hold UEFA Cup matches with an obligation to notify the Police and Border Guard Board, because FIFA is not involved in the matter and UEFA is the only body in which clubs participate.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Lauri Laats to come and speak.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats asked the minister to explain why the penalty rate is being raised from 2,000 euros to 20,000 euros, and asked to know whether, in the last five years, organizers of sporting events have been fined, what they were fined for, and what is the basis for this increase.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
The list for applying for permits for sporting events was expanded to include more dangerous sports, and due to increased safety risks the fines were raised, but so far these fines have not been enforced.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Tõnis Lukas to speak.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
He said that he does not support paying sports referees Nationally set hourly rates, and the limits should remain outside the law and be regulated by government regulations, because they should not be paid from the state budget, and this would reduce bureaucracy and enable flexible changes.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
According to Purga, the state values volunteering, motivates it, and allocates 400,000 euros to sport referees, demonstrating that voluntary work is an important principle enshrined in law.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks Rain Epler to speak.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asks whether the list of subcategories that require a permit is based purely on the wishes of the subcategories and how this list has come about, giving the example that a water motorsport competition requires a permit, but a sailing regatta does not.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
According to Purga, the question of medals remains with the president of the Estonian Olympic Committee, and the explanatory note lists a roster and the regulations, but a large role is played by local councils and affiliate associations, which decide the composition of rosters and the need for permits, and whose proposals have come primarily from the sports sector's inclusion circle, also taking into account the input of the Police and Border Guard Board.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi invites Urve Tiiduse onto the stage.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urve Tiidus said that the bill would reduce the administrative burden and that smaller sports organizations would no longer have to prepare development plans in order to receive support, and she asked whether its impact has also been measured.
Kultuuriminister Heidy Purga
AI Summary
Culture Minister Heidy Purga said that the administrative burden operates on multiple levels, starting at the grassroots level with sports clubs and sports organizations and ending with those who have a development plan and to whom support is directed; reducing procedures would be positive, because sometimes it becomes grotesque and the state should not allow such a situation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanked the minister, said that there were no more questions, and asked Kadri Tali, a member of the Culture Committee, to be the co-presenter to present the Riigikogu's Speech Podium Steering Committee's deliberations and decisions.
Kadri Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kadri Tali described the culture committee meeting, where they discussed the government-initiated amendments to the Sports Act in preparation for the first reading, and the explanations from Minister Heidy Purga and the Sports Department regarding changes to the income tax refund system, noting that sports schools will be created alongside sports clubs and that, because of this, the number of sports schools could be around 100, and the committee decided by consensus to conclude the first reading.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, thanks the assembly, states that there are no questions, opens the negotiations, and asks Madis Kallas, on behalf of the SDE faction, to take the floor.
Madis Kallas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Madis Kallas supported the draft amendment to the Sports Act, emphasising the expansion of sports ethics, the creation of a framework for reclaiming subsidies in cases of breaches of clear rules, and reducing bureaucracy, so that Estonia would have a clean and strong sports culture.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi expresses great gratitude, and on behalf of the Isamaa faction, representative Tõnis Lukas presents a request.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Isamaa representative Tõnis Lukas emphasized simplifying the law and reducing details, and noted that the limits, sports ethics, and oversight of the use of state funds could be at the level of regulations, and he supported the termination of the first reading.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He thanks wholeheartedly and, on behalf of Vadim Belobrovtsev, represents the Estonian Centre Party faction and asks for the floor.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Vadim Belobrovtsev said that the draft is positive and shows a good principle of cooperation: interest groups are involved, questions have been answered, and the minister is present at the committee meeting, which could serve as a model in other areas.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speaker extends heartfelt thanks and invites Arvo Aller to speak on behalf of the EKRE faction.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Alleri's speech addressed amendments to the Sports Act, emphasized that there is politics in sport, and made proposals to harmonize the age limits for youth work, to clarify the concepts of licensing and certification, to clarify the development plan requirements and to reduce bureaucracy; in addition, he touched on topics related to cup competitions and UEFA, and asked the minister for a written response.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The factions no longer wish to negotiate, and therefore the first reading of the draft bill 518 will be concluded, and the deadline for submitting amendments is November 18 at 5:15 PM.