There is no such thing as a athlete within the present Home of Representatives with such a profitable profession as that of ODS MP and former ski jumper Jakub Janda. Right this moment, he’s concerned in sports activities in politics, he additionally sits on the supervisory committee of the Nationwide Sports activities Company, which distributes billions for sports activities. In keeping with checks, previously, cash disappeared utterly opaquely, a number of officers ended up in court docket. “The circumstances have modified,” Janda claims.
Jakub Janda has two awards in his workplace within the Chamber of Deputies. He simply introduced the crystal cup from the Nationwide Museum. “I gained the cup for general victory within the World Cup in 2005/2006. I used to be the primary Czech to win the general rating in an Olympic sport,” he factors out. The second is a wood statuette of a skier for the final victory within the World Cup. However the spouse did not need her at dwelling, she thought it was kitsch, he explains.
You’re one of many MPs who’s most dedicated to the standing of sport within the Czech Republic. You’re additionally on the supervisory board of the Nationwide Sports activities Company, which in keeping with experiences of the Supreme Audit Workplace didn’t monitor the usage of sports activities subsidies, in whole it’s 26.5 billion crowns.
I need to level out straight away that the report covers the interval 2019 to 2022, which is the previous. Since then, circumstances on the Nationwide Sports activities Company have modified considerably. And I unequivocally help the brand new chairman Ondřej Šebko (he has been main the company since December 2022, he beforehand labored in Pardubice hockey and led the rowing union, similar to Janda, he’s a member of ODS – observe ed.).
Nonetheless, these are critical findings concerning the company’s work.
In fact we wish a proof from the company. We definitely don’t underestimate that. Ondřej Šebek actually tries very exhausting, however the sports activities atmosphere doesn’t make it straightforward for him. Individuals in sports activities would like to get the cash following which deal with it themselves. Nevertheless it simply does not work. It’s the state’s cash and it should management its distribution and use. It is not likely straightforward.
Do not you assume there are a whole lot of issues surrounding sports activities? The top of the tennis affiliation Ivo Kaderka is being prosecuted on suspicion of misuse of subsidies, the previous head of soccer Miroslav Pelta, the pinnacle of the snowboarding affiliation, is on trial David Trávníček accused of corruption is awaiting trial. And when the pinnacle of the hockey affiliation Alois Hadamczik opened the hockey championship, the spectators booed him.
As for Lojza Hadamczik, I do know him effectively, he’s from the north of Moravia similar to me. I cannot slander him in any means, I respect that the hockey gamers selected him as their president, and I’m satisfied that he has executed a whole lot of good for hockey. He performed hockey all his life, labored as a coach, went into enterprise and received to some stage. After I went to Kravaří to see what he had constructed with the assistance of town, I noticed how a lot they’d managed to do. They’ve a wonderful sports activities complicated there, they make investments quite a bit in kids and youth, they do not assume solely of themselves.
What do you say concerning the occasions in soccer round Mr. Pelta?
It’s already a really outdated matter, let’s await the ultimate verdict of the court docket. So far as I do know, he appealed, and I imagine within the justice of our judiciary. What extra can I say? If he made a mistake, let him be damned. However it is very important respect the presumption of innocence, usually we condemn an individual upfront and destroy his life.
And what regarding Mr. Kaderka, who, in keeping with many, dominated tennis with a agency hand? The Nationwide Sports activities Company desires the membership to return the subsidy.
Once more, I will not be the one to criticize somebody earlier than the trial has taken place. For instance, have a look at the truth that now we have the most effective ladies’s tennis on the planet, a number of gamers are within the high 100.
Is it the benefit of Mr. Kaderka?
I do not need to defend him, however I believe he undoubtedly has some half in it. He definitely did not do every thing flawed. Possibly he escaped someplace, however let the court docket actually resolve.
Do not be indignant, however is not it acceptable to evaluate the occasions in Czech sports activities with a stricter view? Aren’t you a bit biased as a former athlete who’s nearer to sports activities officers?
There’s a sure solidarity between athletes. However I may equally say that when a important article regarding sports activities comes out, you’ll present extra solidarity with journalists. However I am not prejudiced in any means, in spite of everything I say “fall to whom you fall”. And if somebody cheated, let him be punished.
A pattern from an interview with ODS MP Jakub Janda regarding present occasions in sports activities and the distribution of subsidies. | Video: Radek Bartoníček
Hnilička was extra of a sufferer, he should not have managed the game
When the Nationwide Sports activities Company was established underneath the federal government of Andrej Babiš, many assured that subsidies might be distributed pretty and every thing might be clear. However the issues are the identical as when there was no company.
I believe the state of affairs relating to the distribution of subsidies has improved, regardless that I didn’t help the creation of the company (deputies accepted it by one vote by the narrowest majority, following they overrode the Senate’s veto – observe ed.). However adjustments have taken place underneath our authorities. The top of the company now not has such sturdy powers as when he may make selections on his personal, furthermore, there was a change of head.
However contemplate that the company has to judge over ten thousand functions, which suggests that you may by no means rule out that some applicant won’t try fraud. However we take measures to reduce it. It is going to be crucial that all the system is digitized, which can deliver extra transparency.
The primary chairman of the company was Babiš’s MP Milan Hnilička, a former hockey goalkeeper. Ultimately, he was successfully compelled out following a Treasury audit discovered many irregularities. How do you price his period?
I’ll arise for him as a result of I believe he was extra of a sufferer of the system. He needed to construct an company, which was an especially troublesome process. For one thing like this, you want a military of succesful and skilled individuals in order that an workplace managing billions of {dollars} and hundreds of subsidy functions can efficiently get off the bottom. The Supreme Audit Workplace additionally drew consideration to the chaotic functioning of the company through the interval of Chairman Hnilička.
Is not that your solidarity between athletes once more?
I would not say that even when we knew one another. We met as energetic athletes, I jumped for Liberec, he performed hockey for the White Tigers in Liberec. When it was spring, we met a number of instances in a bar someplace. When he went to go the company, I knew it wasn’t going to go effectively. The company ought to have been run by an skilled supervisor, unencumbered by political background, and never him.
The brand new regulation will assist athletes
When will the distribution of subsidies lastly work in order that it’s truthful and clear and that sports activities help is as environment friendly as doable?
I’ve been a supporter of the institution of the Ministry of Sports activities for years.
Like now we have one other minister?
No, there wouldn’t be one other ministry with extra officers. I’m satisfied that some ministries might be mixed. And one might be the Ministry of Sports activities along with one other, for instance the Ministry of Tradition, as is the case in neighboring Austria. The tourism agenda is also transferred from the Ministry of Regional Growth, as it’s carefully associated to sports activities and can also be a longtime follow in a number of European nations.
Why?
As a result of sport is a Cinderella in our nation that’s nonetheless neglected. I attempt to defend sports activities all over the place I am going, however it’s not sufficient. Within the Chamber of Deputies, they speak regarding pensions and a whole lot of different issues, however are you able to think regarding in the event that they talked regarding placing more cash into sports activities? Let’s face it, there are extra necessary issues than sports activities.
Is little cash going into sports activities?
Cash continues to be scarce in sports activities. Though it’s crucial so as to add cash from areas, cities and municipalities to what the state offers. We should always positively make investments extra in sports activities infrastructure. When this cash is distributed, the requests are a lot bigger than what may be offered. Some 4 years in the past, once I had a research drawn up regarding our debt to the sports activities infrastructure, it was 250 billion crowns. At as we speak’s costs, it might be significantly extra.
However the finances of the Nationwide Sports activities Company just isn’t small.
If we had been to speak purely concerning the company’s finances, it has oscillated round six to seven billion crowns since its institution in 2019. That is merely not sufficient to help the actions of golf equipment, gifted youth, the nationwide workforce and investments in new gear or sports activities grounds nationwide.
The finances will most likely not change a lot within the close to future, however athletes expect a brand new regulation on sports activities.
It is a crucial regulation. I’m very blissful, it should assist the game considerably.
In what?
For instance, it should enshrine in laws fundamental ideas comparable to skilled or beginner athlete, coach, sports activities associations, which is essential to correctly organising a functioning system. On the identical time, it should deliver simplification for hundreds of candidates for monetary help in regular operation – from a fancy subsidy mechanism to a contribution format. With such a step, the bureaucratic burden of sports activities golf equipment will probably be drastically decreased, and as well as, cash will probably be paid to them a lot sooner than is the case as we speak.
However will not he simply stick to the proposal when there’s a yr and a half left till the top of the election interval?
I imagine we’ll make it. The proposal is being ready very completely certainly. And furthermore, with the participation of representatives of all events, so we will count on that it may have normal help.
Can I see the proposal?
Maintain on. It is going to be in paragraph type by the top of Might, then we’ll ship it to the person ministries for feedback, and it ought to seem for dialogue within the Chamber of Deputies by November.
You appear to be a reasonably large optimist to me…
I’m an optimist. I nonetheless have that from the time once I was energetic in sports activities.
Video: This cup was within the Nationwide Museum. And this spouse did not need him at dwelling, Janda exhibits the trophies
Former ski jumper Jakub Janda confirmed two cups that he has within the Chamber of Deputies. | Video: Radek Bartoníček
