Ex-Frankfurt official Sylvia Schenk criticizes the strategy for a German Olympic bid and sees no chance of being awarded the 2036 Games.
Former cycling president Sylvia Schenk has expressed criticism of the strategy process for a possible German Olympic bid. “The application is anemic in terms of content and emotion and major mistakes are made,” said the 71-year-old Frankfurt lawyer in an interview with the German Press Agency. She fears that the German Olympic Sports Confederation’s approach could “for a long time gamble away” the chances of an application.
Schenk: Sports representatives are stewing in their own juice
The core of the strategy process are specialist talks with experts and dialogue forums in which the aim is to inform citizens and convince them to support the Olympic Games in their own country. “You do talks in which no one tunes in and the sports representatives mostly stew in their own juice. There were hardly any perspectives from outside, no inspiring vision for the future,” explained Schenk. “How do you want to convince such an insecure society in transition that the Olympics are an opportunity?” Rather, it’s about “egotistical arguments about sport: more money for the associations, renovated sports facilities and better social acceptance of sport.”
In addition, Germany does not have a sufficient presence on the international level. “We are largely left behind internationally, are neither part of the international debate nor is it sufficiently followed and communicated to people in Germany,” criticized the former Frankfurt city councilor. “The DOSB needs an international strategy, that is, a sports foreign policy, instead of pretending that an application primarily focused on sport and national perspectives is sufficient.”
Schenk rules out the 2036 Olympics in Germany
The DOSB does not want to decide on an Olympic application until the end of 2024. The Summer Games in 2036 and 2040 should be the first priority. Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, Munich and Rhine-Ruhr have expressed interest. “In my opinion it is already too late for 2036 because the basic work was not done in advance,” said Schenk. “As it has been prepared so far, I think it is impossible to apply for 2036 with any prospect of success.”
