“Calls for help from clubs reach us almost every day”

The consequences of the corona pandemic have not yet been overcome, and popular sport is already heading for the next crisis. There is a threat of new waves of layoffs, there are no concrete aid packages – and the energy lockdown is becoming a real danger. DOSB department head for mass sport Christian Siegel talks about the situation in an interview.

Sportschau: Mr. Siegel, how dangerous do you think the impending energy crisis is for mass sport? Do you assume that clubs will have to close again?

Christian Seal: The current situation is threatening the existence of club sports. Sports clubs have lost memberships due to the corona pandemic. Sports clubs are now being hit by the extreme increases in energy prices, either directly in the case of club-owned sports facilities or directly through exorbitant levies when using municipal sports facilities. Fewer members and thus lower income and at the same time higher expenses due to increases in energy prices are a huge threat to sports clubs.

Everyone must make their contribution to energy savings in the current phase. Of course, sport is also ready for this and already has one for this catalog of measures as well as one Sports facility-specific step plan developed for energy reduction. Therefore, we appeal to all sports clubs to save at least 20 percent energy – gas and electricity. A flat-rate and comprehensive sportslockdown must not exist again. Sports halls and pools or water areas suitable for learning to swim must remain open and used intensively for as long as possible.

Sportschau: Do you expect that the clubs will have to pass on the increased energy prices to their members? If so, how can you prevent another wave of layoffs?

Christian Seal: Contribution increases are really the last option, since the club members are also privately massively affected by the price increases. Sport would run the risk of becoming a “luxury good” and the already problematic recovery of members as a result of the pandemic would come to nothing. Private households are already severely affected by inflation and will then no longer be able to afford the premium increases.

In order to prevent a wave of layoffs, political support is required. The federal government’s third relief package does not recognize the existential threat to many sports clubs. The clubs need a perspective: they must be sure that there will be a basis for the continuation of their millions of voluntary commitments in the future.

sports show: The highest goal of your catalog of measures “Recommendations for energy reduction” is to avoid an energy lockdown. Nevertheless, a threat to the solvency of the clubs cannot be accepted. What do you recommend to clubs that get into financial difficulties despite complying with those immediate measures ?

Christian Seal: The energy crisis is a challenge that we as a society can only overcome if politics, business and civil society work together closely. Sports clubs undoubtedly make important contributions in our country, they form the backbone of our society. It therefore makes sense for the federal, state and local governments to develop funding programs for sports clubs that are in financial difficulties.

These clubs have to signal this as early as possible and make it public: their city, district and state sports federations and professional associations, municipalities, local media, constituency delegates – they have to pull out all the stops to increase the pressure on the decision-makers. With a view to precisely these cases, we demand that the federal, state and local governments develop funding programs for sports clubs in financial need.

sports show: Sports clubs have received nothing from the government’s previous aid packages to cushion energy prices. What concrete demands do you, as the umbrella organization, make of the government?

Christian Seal: Sport is aware of its social responsibility, which is why we appeal to our clubs to make a contribution to savings. But the clubs are already weakened by the consequences of the pandemic. We are currently receiving calls for help from clubs or state sports associations almost every day.

There are two possible ways to support the sports clubs through the acute threat of rising energy prices: First, the municipalities, which maintain the majority of the sports facilities, must be enabled to maintain their so-called voluntary services. The federal and state governments have to do this.

And secondly: A support fund is needed for sport, just as it was set up for culture in the federal government’s third relief package.

sports show: Is sport getting enough attention from politics in the renewed crisis? Is the political lobbying sufficient?

Up until last weekend, sports and politics agreed that the mistakes of the corona pandemic should not be repeated. Unfortunately, this is exactly what is becoming increasingly apparent in the energy crisis.

That’s why DOSB President Thomas Weikert and DOSB CEO Torsten Burmester also criticized it very clearly. And they are not alone in this, we expressed the criticism together with the DFB and the DFL and I was pleased that Felix Neureuther, for example, also supported our position.