At the EKS panel titled 'Sports Local Government – How to Invest to Earn and Promote the Region?', various experts discussed the ongoing challenges local governments face in funding sports initiatives. Adam Ciszkowski, the president of the Association of Polish Local Governments, pointed out that public funding is often insufficient, competing instead with more pressing infrastructure needs like road construction. This leads to a situation where investments in sports facilities struggle to gain traction, prompting discussions on how to effectively convince residents and local authorities to support new sports infrastructure such as fields or sports halls.

Paweł Skowroński, the president of the Podlaskie Sports Federation, raised concerns about the adequacy of existing sports facilities, arguing that more investment should not focus on building new ones, especially as there is already a shortage of children attending training sessions. Instead, he emphasized the importance of investing in educational programs for parents, teachers, and children to promote sports participation. He mentioned that physical education classes for young children in grades 1-3 are lacking, which can negatively impact engagement in sports at an early age.

The panel also highlighted the importance of promoting physical education, noting that children should not be excused from these activities for trivial reasons, as exercising fosters better organization and discipline. Additionally, investing in sports activities for seniors was suggested as a crucial aspect to enhance public health across age groups. Overall, the discussion aimed at illustrating the dual role of sports as a means of recreation and as an integral component of community health investment.