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The foundation will be established in 2016 and the founders of the new entity will be the government and the Estonian Olympic Committee. The new entity will take over the duties of the Estonian Sports Museum as collector, preserver and promoter of cultural heritage.

The minister of culture, Indrek Saar, said the establishment of the foundation is one step in the ongoing process of changing the nature of ownership of museums.

"Responsibility for the wellbeing of museums must be brought together in the hands of communities and specialists. Like all museums, the Estonian Sports and Olympic Museum must become more active still," Saar said.

The minister added that the experience of the Ministry of Culture shows that the museums that have continued their activity in the form of a foundation have increased their visitor numbers and revenue and have become more cost-effective. All that helps to make an input to achieving the substantive goals of the museum.