Juliane Kuhlmann has been leading the Hesse State Sports Association (LSBH) for almost 17 months. Time, says the first woman at the head of the umbrella organization, has passed quickly. In addition to what one could call everyday work, the consequences of various crises and wars around the world concern the more than 7,400 sports clubs as well as the specialist associations and sports circles whose interests the LSBH represents.
The corona pandemic appears to have been well managed: with more than 2.137 million members, the LSBH had already recorded a historic high as of January 1, 2023. The rebound after a low during the peak phase of the virus is helping to offset the higher costs that Finance Vice President Helmut Meister expects in his 2024 budget.
According to the forecast, expenses will rise by almost 500,000 to 39 million euros and will be offset by savings, Meister explained to more than 220 delegates on Saturday at the main committee of the LSBH in Frankfurt. But those responsible want to talk to the new state government soon with the aim of increasing the share of sports in gaming revenue, which currently stands at 24.3 million.
“Run for sport”
From their point of view, dynamic adjustment would be optimal so that the topic does not have to be addressed again and again. The clubs themselves were able to receive a maximum of subsidies in 2023. The LSBH distributed almost nine million euros in regular and additional funding. In addition, the state received funds of around 2.4 million euros through a qualification offensive and energy aid.
A further 800,000 euros were accessed via the ReStart program from the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB). The campaign, which runs until the end of the year, will attract new members to the clubs with vouchers for the contributions due.
The latest “run on sport” shows that people not only like to exercise, but also prefer to do so together with others, emphasized Michaela Röhrbein from the DOSB board in a guest lecture. They learned about the values that are the cornerstones of democracy. Kuhlmann emphasized the role of sport as an “integrative force”, which is particularly in demand in current times.
Report button for anti-Semitic incidents
“The terrible images and sad news from the Middle East are having an impact on us in Hesse,” said the LSBH boss. “We strongly condemn the cruel terrorist attack by Hamas and, as a sports community, call out to all those who carry anti-Semitism in their hearts or even live it out here: Hatred and incitement have no place in Hesse – especially not on our sports fields and in our clubs.”
It should not be the case that fellow Jews are afraid to go to training or to events. “Please be attentive and show solidarity with the Jewish community in Germany and our friends in the three Hessian Maccabi clubs.” Jens-Uwe Münker, head of the sports department in the Hessian Ministry of the Interior, called on the meeting to communicate the reporting button for anti-Semitic incidents in sports.
The terrorist attack also affects the Hessian Makkabi clubs. : Image: Lucas Bäuml
With this, a white referee whistle on a red background, clubs can signal on their websites that they are open to relevant information. This is intended to reduce inhibitions. The Federal Association of Anti-Semitism Research and Information Centers, which collects and evaluates the incidents, also offers help to those affected.
The LSBH itself spontaneously stepped in as host in October when part of the Israeli delegation was stranded in Frankfurt on the way back from the European Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Antwerp, Belgium. The athletes were accommodated and fed in the sports school for several days. To this day, a refugee family from Ukraine lives in a caretaker’s apartment on the site in the Otto-Fleck-Schneise.
Jan Ehrhardt Published/Updated: Recommendations: 19 Michael Wittershagen Published/Updated: Recommendations: 19 Alexander Davydov Published/Updated: Recommendations: 38
Despite the great challenges of the present, the LSBH is not only running in crisis mode, but is also setting “new accents,” said Kuhlmann. The organization is expecting an award at the German Sustainability Prize 2023 for its consulting concept for clubs that want to make their sports facilities more climate-friendly. According to the requests, the greatest need from the clubs is to recruit new volunteer staff. Even if, according to Röhrbein, the DOSB is already working with artificial intelligence, this could become perhaps the most difficult task for organized sport.
