How can sport survive in times of crisis and even be promoted more? The special session of the conference of sports ministers dealt with this question. The DOSB has a specific requirement.
DOSB President Thomas Weikert called for a “pact for sport” at the special session of the Conference of Sport Ministers (SMK) in Munich.
“We have to ask ourselves what kind of competitive sport we want. We have to ask ourselves how we can support our athletes and coaches even better,” said the head of the German Olympic Sports Confederation. “We have to ask ourselves how we can increase the importance of exercise and sport in the entire life cycle of people in our country, in competitive and popular sports.”
The discussions must be held in the SMK and at the federal government’s movement summit announced by Interior Minister Nancy Faeser (SPD), as well as in society as a whole. Therefore, the DOSB suggests initiating a scientific study on how society evaluates sport and competitive sport. Based on the overall results, a “pact for sport” must be concluded that will enable a trend reversal in sport and thus also in competitive sport, the statement said.
De-bureaucratization of sports funding
In order to create a trend reversal, a clear understanding of the role in competitive sport is needed, explained Dirk Schimmelpfennig, DOSB board member for competitive sport. In addition, sports funding must be made less bureaucratic and more flexible, talent must be identified and developed, and more qualified trainers and competitive sports personnel recruited. “We have to consistently pursue all of this and implement it in concrete terms so that we can return to the top of the world in summer and winter sports in the long term,” said Schimmelpfennig.
At the SMK chaired by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate on the fringes of the European Championships, the further development of top-class sport in Germany was discussed. Help was promised to deal with the energy crisis. “The sports clubs have already had to suffer from the restrictions caused by the corona pandemic. We therefore advocate keeping sports facilities and halls open for as long as possible”, said Bavaria’s Sports Minister Joachim Herrmann.