After strong criticism from the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the state sports associations, Athletes Germany has spoken out with its statement on the draft sports funding law from the Federal Ministry of the Interior. “Recognize opportunities, take criticism seriously, clarify questions, raise potential” is what the athlete representatives demand in the title of their text published on Monday.
The renewed attempt at competitive sports reform, the planned sports funding law and the independent competitive sports agency have the potential to contribute to improving the existing conditions, they write.
Initiate debate
However, they also point out that, as they understand it, the goals and social functions of elite sports funding are still open; Athletes Germany and DOSB are tasked with initiating a debate on this issue later this year.
Michael Reinsch Published/Updated: Recommendations: 4 Michael Reinsch, Berlin Published/Updated: , Recommendations: 1 Michael Reinsch, Glasgow Published/Updated: Recommendations: 5
It is important to regulate how the results are to be transferred into the strategy for promoting top-class sport. In general, the athlete representatives demand that the federal government and the DOSB clarify how decision-making processes are designed for a sustainable, socially legitimate and broadly accepted top-class sport funding strategy – i.e. who decides between the primacy of medals and the diversity of sport and on what basis. In addition, it is important for the partners to define and compare their understanding of independence.
