DOSB President Thomas Weikert supports a German Olympic bid Photo: picture alliance/dpa
From BZ/dpa
The German sports umbrella organization is considering a renewed application for the Olympics – although it has opposed a recommendation by the IOC for the return of Russian athletes.
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) does not expect any disadvantage for the intended application for the Olympic Games due to its negative attitude towards the re-admission of Russian athletes to international competitions.
The announcement by German IOC President Thomas Bach that Russian athletes would be allowed to compete in the games again was not well received by many Photo: picture alliance/ Keystone
“We are all in a situation that has arisen for more than a year and to which we have taken a clear position,” said Olaf Tabor, director of competitive sports at the DOSB, the dpa on the sidelines of the European Games in Poland. “We do not assume that our current political positioning will have a lasting effect on our application ambitions for events in thirteen or seventeen years.”
DOSB opposes IOC boss Bach
With its position, the DOSB had publicly opposed the recommendation of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and President Thomas Bach set to allow athletes back into world sport under certain criteria, despite the ongoing Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Russia and Belarus are excluded from the European games until July 2nd.
From his point of view, a successful application for the Olympics would be a great benefit for German sport. “It would make almost everything we wish for and what we are currently working on easier, because you can generate a lot more attention with such a flagship event,” explained Tabor. “It would give us additional momentum for projects that are of significant importance to our society, regardless of the Olympic Games in Germany.”
Most recently, Munich for 2022 (winter) and Hamburg for 2024 (summer) were unsuccessful with their Olympic attempts. A new candidacy would be conceivable for the 2034 or 2038 Winter Games and for the 2036 or 2040 Summer Games.