In vocational schools there are plans to add compulsory sport lessons. Ski training courses and school excursions fill in the Bavarian schools athletics syllabi. Bavarian universities and higher education institutions maintain ten academic departments engaged in athletics and sports-related research. All university students are encouraged to participate in the wide range of sports on offer at the universities. Outside the schools, the Bavarian State Government extends annual grants to the tune of 200 millions DM, primarily for building and upkeep of sports facilities, for training and employment of sport club coaches, and for athletic club activities.
Special emphasis is placed on sports for the handicapped.
However, sports in Bavaria do not only mean athletics for the masses but also competitive sports. The Free State is proud of its top athletes, since wins in major competitions reflect on the general development of sports and influence the young athletes. The State Government sponsors competitive sports by financing the activities of numerous trainers within the sport associations, extends subsidies to local competitive sport centres and co-finances the Olympic Centre in Bavaria with its training facilities based in the regional centres and abroad. Last but not least it supports the school athletic competitions, such as the Youth Training for the Olympics contest. To optimise the interconnectedness between schools athletics and professional sports, there have been established sports schools partners of professional sports organizations.