Court of Auditors: Deficient data (2007-2011)

The Basque Court of Public Accounts (TVCP) published in 2014 the subsidies granted by the Basque Government and the deputies of Álava, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa between 2007 and 2011. A total of EUR 16.7 billion was mobilised, of which EUR 42 million was for elite sports teams, according to the data provided. For example, Athletic was bolstered by 13.3 million euros, Bilbao Basket 9.5, the Euskaltel-Euskadi 8.3, Real Sociedad 7.7 and Gipuzkoa Basket 2.5.

The list of beneficiaries does not include Alavés, and it is mentioned that Baskonia only received EUR 0.7 million in the last year. There is no trace of the failed Formula 1 Epsilon-Euskadi project. What does this mean, that the most important clubs in Álava did not receive money? Not as a subsidy, but in other ways: the institutions rescued Alavés in 2011 and Baskonia has signed several conventions. Furthermore, the TVCP report does not include details of the sponsorship agreements, nor the amounts allocated to sports facilities (San Mamés, Anoeta…).

“It is clear that the report does not faithfully reflect what has happened in recent years in Álava,” said journalist Iker Rioja in the newspaper El Mundo. This is demonstrated by the data provided by Josean Querejeta himself, owner of Baskonia and Alavés in the First Division. In the period 2007-2011, the basketball team received 0.7 million euros, compared to 6.3 million euros from the Provincial Council and the City Hall of Vitoria-Gasteiz. “The Alavés rescue operation, for its part, was coordinated from the offices of the Diputación, with the PNV in charge,” says Riojana. The operation, which amounted to EUR 16 million, was also financed by the Basque Government and the City Hall of Vitoria-Gasteiz. For example, although they were not allocated as subsidies, Alavés received EUR 2 million for the Rio lands, and was “spared” the debt to Hacienda of EUR 5.7 million, leaving the plots of the former Izarra college in the hands of the Provincial Council.

It is clear, however, that the report does not offer an absolutely faithful review of subsidies, as it does not fully cover the financing of elite sport. “The purpose of the court is to summarize the subsidies, without questioning the legality of this action,” the court said.

Sponsorships of the Basque Government 2010-2013

Between 2010-2013, the Basque Government invested EUR 9.1 million in different forms of sponsorship. The economic items were channelled by the following departments: Culture, Presidency, Interior, Environment, Industry and organisations such as the Spri, dependent on it, among others. The Alavés Foundation received the most support: over one million euros to promote the brand “Rioja Alavesa” between 2011-2016.

The Euskadi Cycling Foundation received seven items of between 80,000 and 400,000 euros, until it disappeared in 2013, after losing the support of the institutions that assumed much of the budget. Saski Baskonia and Bilbao Basket are also recipients of various aids for the promotion of the brand “Euskadi”.

Main sports facilities: 200 million in 10 years

The institutions have allocated around 200 million euros in the last ten years for the construction of San Mamés Barria and Bilbao Arena, the expansion of the Buesa Arena and the remodeling of Anoeta.

- San Mamés Barria (Bilbao): €186 million. BBK (Kutxabank) 43, Basque Government 43, Congressmen 43, City Hall 11 and Athletic 43. (Project 2009)

- Bilbao Arena (Bilbao): EUR 42 million. Deputies 21 and Municipalities 21. (2006)

- Anoeta (Donostia-San Sebastián): EUR 49 million. The Basque Government 10, Diputación 4 and Real 36, awaiting the contribution of Kutxabank. (2016)

- Buesa Arena (Vitoria-Gasteiz): EUR 30 million. Government 15 and Deputies 15. (2010)

This list shows the basketball and football stadiums, on the margins of Fronton Bizkaia (the Provincial Council contributed 24.5 million for its construction).