The core of the law is the establishment of an independent sports agency that will decide on the allocation of funds based on sports criteria. In addition, the law is intended to provide greater planning security by fixing the funding independently of the respective federal government.
The Federal Ministry of the Interior revised a first draft after strong criticism from the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and many sports associations. Now the DOSB welcomed the law, its president Thomas Weikert called it a “significant signal for the future development and sustainable strengthening of top-class sport in Germany”, but also called for improvements, for example in terms of flexibility and de-bureaucratization, but also in the social security of athletes and athletes trainers.
This is also called for by the athletes’ representation “Athleten Deutschland”, which also advocates for better and independent protective measures as well as an independent status as an athletes’ representative. “The law has opportunities and potential, but remains far below its potential,” said deputy managing director Maximilian Klein. There is an “imbalance in favor of structural reforms”.
