1. BACKGROUND

The Principality of Asturias, in the exercise of its powers, prepared its last Census of Sports facilities in 2007, having carried out its last revision or update in 2011.

In the period of time that has elapsed from 2011 to today, not only have the sports facilities in our territory been built and / or expanded, but sports habits have also significantly changed, giving rise to new practice spaces. sports and a park of sports facilities different and complementary to the existing one, and where outdoor facilities have taken a special role that until now was not reflected in the current census of sports facilities.

The Law currently in force, Law 2/1994, of December 29, on sports, such as the Draft Law on Physical Activity and Sports that is being processed by the General Board of the Principality of Asturias, not only these and other spaces are recognized sports practice, but also obliges public administrations to draw up a Master Plan for Sports Facilities. For this reason, it is necessary to know the current state of the sports facilities in the Principality of Asturias, therefore it is a legal imperative to update the aforementioned census.

In accordance with the provisions of article 3g) of the aforementioned Law 2/1994, of December 29, on Sports, which establishes as general lines of action, g) The planning of the basic sports infrastructure aimed at achieving a territorial balance; It is necessary to know the resources available in the Principality of Asturias.


2. OBJECTIVES

In 2019, the deviation between the registered facilities and the existing ones was revealed, making clear the need for an update that would adapt to the requirements of the moment. For this reason, the computer tool that will contain the current census has been renewed and that will make it possible to update it in the future by collecting the new non-registered spaces as well as the newly created ones, as a result of the aforementioned change in sports habits of the population of Asturias. In order to meet the following objectives:

  • Maintain an updated database of all sports facilities in the Principality of Asturias, which allows evaluating their number and collecting their main technical characteristics.
  • Establish mechanisms for the collection, updating, exchange and dissemination of information.
  • Carry out a statistical analysis and a study of the characteristics and evolution of the Asturias sports facilities park with the data obtained, which will be published.
  • Provide statistics that enable the adoption of planning, management and investment decisions in sports facilities.

3. SCOPE

A sports facility is made up of sports and complementary spaces that are located in a common area and have a dependent and homogeneous operation. The complementary spaces of the facility are directly related to the development of sports activities. In facilities with activity areas, it is common for complementary spaces to be the only spaces built. Apart from sports and complementary spaces, sports facilities may have other services, which are called auxiliary.

For the purposes of this census and taking into account the basic characteristics of sports spaces, three large groups of sports spaces can be distinguished.

  • Conventional: corresponding to the most traditional typologies.
  • Unique: they have dimensions and characteristics adapted to each type. They are more specific spaces and generally have spatial requirements that make their distribution uneven over the territory.
  • Activity Areas: these are not strictly sports, but rather the infrastructures or natural spaces on which physical-sports activities are carried out (trails, marinas, shelters, aerodromes, etc.). The lack of definition of the limits and specific characteristics makes their dimensioning and data collection difficult.

The conditions that the facilities had to meet to be included in the census were: that they were for collective use, that they were signposted and that some adaptation action had been built or carried out to allow physical-sporting practice on a permanent basis or that it was a place of general recognition for the development of these practices.

Facilities for own use by a family unit and those potential practice spaces that do not meet these requirements have been excluded from this census. Installations that were not permanent, that is, temporary adaptations, have also been expressly excluded from this area. The proximity facilities of parks, calisthenics, joint mobility, etc. have also been included in this census, excluding only children's play areas.