Copenhageners can look forward to using better sports facilities in the future as the City Council’s Committee for Culture and Leisure on March 10 decided to extraordinarily grant 132 million kroner more to such activities in the capital.

Much needed funds
Less than a fourth of the city's residents are members of a sports organisation under the Danmarks Idrætsforbund (DIF) umbrella – significantly below the national average. In northern Zealand and western Jutland over half of all residents are a member of a DIF-affiliated club, according to Politiken. 

And in other parts of the city, a lack of swimming facilities has led to long waiting lists for children who want to learn how to swim.

According to the DIF, most capital residents claimed they would participate more if the facilities were better and if there more opportunities outside working hours.

The lucky recipients
The funds, which were raised through the sale of several council-owned buildings, will mainly be used to carry out renovation work on existing sport facilities. Valby Stadion (22 million kroner), Sundby Stadion (10 million) and Brønshøj Sports Hall (7 million) have all been promised makeovers.

The council also intends to install four astroturf playing fields in Vanløse, Holmen, Utterslev Mose and Genforeningspladsen.