The EU Commission decides to consider the aid for renewing an ice arena to be compatible with the internal market since it served a policy objective of common interest (Thialf)

Competitive Elements in the Selection of Operators of Sports Infrastructure May not Be Enough to Eliminate State Aid* Main points The existence of an advantage cannot be excluded when the operator of an infrastructural facility is chosen through a competitive procedure which combines price with other selection criteria. The users of a subsidised infrastructural facility who pay a market fee may still derive an advantage when the facility is designed and/or reserved for certain usage. Introduction Ever since the Leipzig-Halle judgment on construction of infrastructure, public authorities - especially those at regional level owning infrastructure such as ports, airports and stadiums- have been trying hard to figure out when the use of their funds can be classified as State aid. The