The government will invest €150 million in sports infrastructure over the next five years. The priority will be given to training facilities and to outdoor sporting grounds that will be open to all free of charge.

"Sports infrastructure is outright run-down in some places and sport needs better conditions," Matjaž Han, the minister of the economy, tourism and sport, said after the government adopted the sports investment programme on 4 May.

The plan is based on a proposal of investments over the 2023-2027 period that was drafted under the previous government.

Just under €11 million will be available in this year's open call for applications, of which €8 million to support investment in multi-purpose sports halls and gyms, and €2.9 million for modernisation or new outdoor sporting facilities.

"We're not yet talking about large-scale projects because the money for that is not yet available in the budget," Han said.

The ministry is in talks with the Olympic Committee and individual sports federations "to let the sporting public decide what the state should co-fund".

"This way we can arrive at projects like that in Planica several years ago," the minister said in reference to the Planica Nordic Centre.

The ministry is also meeting the country's mayors on 5 May to discuss the investment programme. It will support between 90 and 100 sports projects all over Slovenia.

The government also decided to chip in €400,000 to support this year's Tour of Slovenia cycling race.