Top-class sport leaves a lot of scope for dependencies and nasty power games. Image: AFP
Elite sport is sometimes organized very hierarchically and therefore leaves a lot of scope for dependencies and nasty power games. Sport must be responsible for protecting its members out of conviction.
European champions with infectious football: That would be wonderful. And then a beautiful, shiny collection of medals for the German team at the Olympic Games in Paris, perhaps garnished with a convincing bid by Germany for the 2036 Summer Olympics. That would give a boost to sport, perhaps bring about a change in the generally perceived mood, and bring about ruin everywhere to discover. According to the government, just changing the jersey now suggests a loss of patriotism.
There are more important things. In sport, above all – before a thrilling European Championship game, before gold decorations or fantasies about summer games – the well-being of the athletes in the around 90,000 clubs. It was and is in danger. Top female athletes regularly report – so far predominantly – from subtle to massive physical, psychological or sexual violence in their everyday training and competitions.
