Dresden, Germany – Details of a revised draft of Germany’s new Sports Funding Act, spearheaded by Christiane Schenderlein, the Federal Minister for Sport and Volunteering, emerged last week. The proposed legislation aims to overhaul how elite sports are funded and governed in Germany and while initial reactions suggest progress, significant questions remain about the balance of power between the government and sporting organizations.
Elite sport relies on a robust funding infrastructure. Turnerin Emma Malewski during competition in Dresden (August 1, 2025).
Archysport.com received a copy of the updated draft on Wednesday. While a detailed review of the changes is ongoing, a preliminary assessment indicates that some of the sports community’s optimization suggestions have been incorporated. This is a welcome outcome of constructive discussions over recent weeks, according to sources familiar with the process. Specifically, revisions regarding the governance structure of the planned elite sports agency demonstrate a move towards a more equitable relationship between sports and political stakeholders. Yet, further optimization is still needed, and concerns will be detailed to the Federal Chancellery following a thorough review. The goal, as one official stated, is not the quickest possible sports funding law, but the best possible one.
One key concern previously raised by organized sports was the lack of a clear commitment to the autonomy of sport within the initial draft presented last autumn. The crucial provision stating that funding for elite sports should become a mandatory task for the state – rather than a voluntary undertaking – was absent. Sources confirm that the autonomy of sport is now addressed in the revised draft, though some details still require negotiation.
At the heart of the proposed legislation is the creation of an independent agency, slated to launch in 2027 and become fully operational with approximately 50 staff members by 2031. This agency will serve as the central mechanism for supporting elite sports, which currently receives nearly €350 million in federal funding annually. The agency will be overseen by a foundation council, and reports indicate that this council will be expanded from five to nine members, granting sports representatives three seats instead of the initially proposed one. Is this a step forward? Sources suggest it is, but emphasize that the majority of the council will still be comprised of political representatives, necessitating further negotiation to achieve true parity.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) is also likely to notice its influence diminished. However, the more important question, as one insider place it, is where that power will be transferred. Ensuring the agency’s independence – particularly through its two executive directors – is paramount. It must operate free from political domination while still leveraging the expertise of the DOSB and individual sports federations. The agency will be accountable to its funders: the taxpayers.
Reports suggest that Alexander Dobrindt, the Federal Minister of the Interior, and Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder recently urged Schenderlein to locate the agency under the umbrella of the DOSB. This proposal, however, appears to have been rejected. Whether this was a strategic move by Bavaria to gain leverage in the competition to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games – pitting Munich against Berlin, Hamburg, and the Rhine-Ruhr region – remains unconfirmed. Sources indicate that any such connection is speculative.
“Regardless, what’s good for sport is what matters,” a spokesperson stated. “The city or region that we put forward to the International Olympic Committee to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games will not be determined by me or the DOSB headquarters. That decision will be made on September 26th at an extraordinary general meeting in Baden-Baden, in accordance with the statutes, by the delegates of the Olympic sports federations and members of the Presidium.”
Christiane Schenderlein, a member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and a member of the Bundestag since 2021, has been central to this process. Schenderlein previously served as a member of the Landtag of Saxony starting in 2019 and is currently her parliamentary group’s spokesperson for cultural affairs and media.
The debate surrounding this new sports funding law highlights the ongoing tension between centralized control and the autonomy of sporting organizations. The goal is to create a system that fosters athletic excellence while ensuring transparency and accountability. The coming weeks will be crucial as stakeholders continue to negotiate the details and strive for a final agreement that serves the best interests of German sport.
The next key date is September 26th, when the German Olympic Sports Confederation will vote on the candidate city for a potential Olympic bid. Stay tuned to Archysport.com for further updates on this developing story.
