Germany to Launch ‘Safe Sport’ Center in Kassel to Combat Interpersonal Violence

The German government and regional states have officially greenlit the creation of the Zentrum für Safe Sport (Safe Sport Center), a specialized hub designed to tackle sexualized and interpersonal violence within the sporting world. Based in Kassel, the center will serve as a critical resource for intervention, prevention, and the processing of abuse cases.

The announcement came from Christiane Schenderlein, the State Minister for Sport and Volunteering, following the first day of the 53rd Sport Minister Conference held in Norderney. Schenderlein described the center as a “central building block” in the effort to create sports safer and more trustworthy for all participants.

For those unfamiliar with the terminology, “interpersonal violence” in this context encompasses a broad spectrum of abuse, including physical, psychological, and sexualized violence, as well as neglect. The center is designed to provide a structured, independent pathway for victims to seek justice and for organizations to implement systemic changes.

A New Framework for Accountability

The Zentrum für Safe Sport will not operate in a vacuum. Its legal and material foundation is the Safe Sport Code (SSC), a unified set of internal regulations adopted by the DOSB (German Olympic Sports Confederation) in December 2024. The SSC is significant because it prohibits interpersonal violence in all forms, even in instances that may fall below the threshold of criminal prosecution.

Once operational, the center is intended to function as an independent arbitration body. This means it will have the authority to investigate cases of violence transparently and in detail, with the power to issue sanctions. By removing the investigation process from the immediate control of the sports federations involved, the center aims to eliminate conflicts of interest that often hinder the reporting of abuse.

The initiative is initially focused on elite sports (Leistungssport), though its impact is expected to ripple through the broader sporting community. Some organizations already have their own protocols; for example, the German Football Association (DFB) utilizes a three-pillar system of prevention, intervention, and processing. Silke Sinning, the DFB’s child protection officer, noted that the new center and the Safe Sport Code will serve as “important complementary measures” to existing structures.

The Debate Over Voluntariness vs. Mandates

While there is broad agreement on the necessitate for the center, a significant political divide has emerged regarding how sports federations will be integrated into the system. The tension lies between the government’s preference for voluntary cooperation and the demand for strict mandates.

Minister Schenderlein has advocated for a voluntary approach. Yet, Johannes Herber, the Managing Director of “Athleten Deutschland” (Athletes Germany), has pushed for a more aggressive strategy. Herber argues that a federation’s commitment to submitting to the independent investigation and sanctioning authority of the center should be a prerequisite for receiving government funding.

This debate highlights a recurring challenge in sports governance: the balance between the autonomy of sports bodies and the necessity of external oversight to protect athlete safety.

Implementation Timeline

The road to a fully functioning center is already underway, following years of preparatory work. The current timeline provided by the government is as follows:

• Autumn 2026: The center is expected to begin its initial operations.
• Mid-2027: The center is scheduled to enter full regular operation (Regelbetrieb).

This phased rollout allows the organization to establish its independent arbitration processes and integrate the Safe Sport Code before taking on a full caseload of investigations.

The establishment of the Kassel center represents a systemic shift in how Germany addresses the dark side of athletic competition. By creating a dedicated, independent entity to handle reports of sexualized violence and abuse, the goal is to move beyond internal apologies and toward verifiable accountability.

The next major milestone will be the center’s initial launch this autumn, where the practical application of the Safe Sport Code will be put to the test.

Do you believe tying government funding to independent oversight is the only way to ensure athlete safety? Share your thoughts in the comments below.