analysis
The organized sport rejoices in view of the coalition agreement of the new federal government. However, a lot remains vague – and commitments have been weakened.
“Our three central demands are almost fully accepted”Thomas Weikert, the President of the German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB), lets him quote. “In this respect, we are looking forward to four hopeful years for sport.“
It is rare that the DOSB is enthusiastic about political decisions from Berlin, but on Wednesday (09.04.2025) published coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU and SPD hit a nerve. One of the DOSB’s central demands was a Minister of State for Sport in the Chancellery – and that should actually come.
More sports lobby in the Chancellery
The sport hopes for more political hearing and a shorter wire to the Chancellor, ideally with a sports enthusiast, who can hardly be distinguished from a sports lobbyist. So far, the main contact for sports was the State Secretary in the Ministry of the Interior – the paths to the head of government are now actually shorter. But what does the government hope for?
The historical decision is located in the coalition agreement at the very end of the Subcapitus Sport and is dealt with in a narrow sentence: “We appoint a Minister of State for Sports and Volunteering in the Chancellery.” There is nothing more.
More bureaucracy by the Minister of State
In all likelihood, sport will continue to be located in the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home (BMI). The new state ministry post is probably the main task of coordinating the sports themes from the various departments – especially from the Ministeries for Health, Defense and Building.
It seems sensible to ensure that everyone swims in the same direction. But does a minister need this? One thing is certain: the bureaucracy will grow instead of shrinking, after all, the new office must be informed and taken away.
Power struggles are programmed
And to what extent can it also steer? A congestion of competence with the Ministry of the Interior seems inevitable. And there should also be further friction with sport.
The new government now has a high -ranking official and its own mouthpiece for sport. Where does the DOSB are involved, which always pounds on the autonomy of sport and sees itself in the leadership role?
That yes to Olympic application Was sure
A self -run was the government’s promise to support an application for Olympic Games. After the intoxicating festival Paris 2024, the Olympic entitlement in politics increased. The enthusiasm of how slowly and cumbersome the DOSB an application for summer games 2036, 2040 and 2044 is likely to be.
On Wednesday, he corrected the schedule again, until September 2026 it is only to be determined in which application Germany will go into the race. And then getting the necessary financial commitments from Berlin should be extremely heavier than a general encouragement in the coalition agreement.
The sports billion as an air number?
When it comes to money, the enthusiasm for sports in Berlin has limits – this shows the third central concern of the DOSB. In the working papers it was still said that the new government wanted to help renovate sports facilities with at least one billion euros per year with at least one billion euros per year. In view of the planned special fund for infrastructure of 500 billion euros in the next twelve years, this promise appeared quite realistic.
But now the important addition “per year” is missing in the coalition agreement. The spongy sports billion, which the CDU/CSU also had in the election program, could also be distributed over four years without breaking the word, which would only mean 250 million euros per year.
No more money from the federal government than before
That would not be a increase compared to so far, because the BUND sports facilities also promoted in various ways. An example: From the funding program “Sport, Youth and Culture” alone, an average of more than 200 million euros were available for renovation projects annually from 2015 to 2023.
The Klammen municipalities are urgently dependent on help from Berlin to modernize the numerous dilapidated sports halls and swimming pools.
Social security for Top athlete
It is noteworthy that the coalition agreement specifically responds to the needs of the athletes, whose lobby association athletes Germany books this as a success. The professionals should be better secured, maternity protection can be used and strengthened in their dual careers. Award for medals obtained should also become tax -free.
The confession for the center is commendable Safe SportThe federal program against extremism and anti-Semitism, the help for victims of GDR compulsory doping and the “coordination office fan projects”.
The listed coaching offensive also sounds great, but there have been plans in this direction many times, but have so far had a low effect.
Sports development plan and Sports Promotion Act miss
The sports development plan, which is addressed by the predecessor government, is not mentioned at all, whichPlayer from politics, science, economy and organized sport should combine behind a goal. Here the future minister of sports is asked to start a new attempt.
Even the planned sports funding law with the agency for top sport does not appear by namely that the general project, to make top -sport promotion more efficiently and to orientate themselves on the processes initiated. It is interesting to make the express note of taking into account the sovereignty of the budget legislator.
Means: The federal government should and wants to decide how the state funding benefit top sport. So far, the DOSB has severely mixed with this question and wants to continue to do so. The competence of broken way between sport and politics should continue – with the difficulties that the new minister of sports now is involved in another party.