Matthias Große is the new President of the German Speed Skating Association (DESG). The partner of the five-time Olympic champion Claudia Pechstein (Berlin) was elected to the office at the DESG general meeting in Frankfurt with 70 votes in favor, five against and twelve abstentions.
“It was a vote not just about a person, but about the new way of the DESG,” said Große after his election: “It is now a matter of starting work, not being celebrated and ensuring that the association gets older Finds strength. ” Alfons Hörmann, President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), did not want to comment on the criticism of Große, whose leadership style has not been well received by everyone in recent weeks. “It is not up to us to comment on the criticism of individuals in our autonomous member organizations,” said Hörmann. So far, the DOSB “has not heard anything that worries us in any way”.
As acting president, Große recently caused a sensation with rigorous measures. He parted ways with national coach Erik Bouwman and sports director Matthias Kulik and, according to his own statements, invested 250,000 euros in improving the training opportunities in the association’s infrastructure. Above all Moritz Geisreiter as active spokesman had campaigned against a choice by Große.
.
