DOSB wanted commitments from the federal government
Budget crisis slows German Olympic ambitions
December 4th, 2023, 5:35 p.m
The budget crisis is also affecting sport: in order to possibly apply for the 2036 Olympic Games, the DOSB is demanding financial commitments from the federal government. But the responsible ministry explains: This cannot currently exist. There are also differences on the Russia issue.
According to its own information, the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI) cannot currently provide the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) with the financial assurance required by the umbrella organization to support a possible Olympic bid. As the ministry announced upon request, it was indeed correct to “commit to shared responsibility – including financial ones”, but “according to the ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court of November 15, 2023, the resulting questions for the coming federal budgets are initially to be addressed with the necessary thoroughness”.
The DOSB is currently still financing its Olympic efforts, which could result in an official application for the Games from 2036, from its own resources. At the DOSB general meeting last Saturday in Frankfurt, President Thomas Weikert demanded “appreciation” from the federal government in the form of financial guarantees. Jörg Ammon, chairman of the Bavarian State Sports Association, demanded that the BMI draw a declaration of intent.
DOSB changed its stance on Russia
Regarding the DOSB’s changed stance on the Russia issue, a spokesman for the ministry responsible for sport said: “There has been no coordination between the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland and the German Olympic Sports Confederation on this.”
Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said before the DOSB’s changed positioning was announced last Saturday: “It must always be ensured that the Ukrainian athletes have full protection. They are in a war of aggression with Putin, for which they are not responsible, are suffering, and then they also get such negative events in sports.”
One shouldn’t “disadvantage those athletes from Russia and Belarus who can’t do anything about it. But I expect them to at least show a commitment against the war,” explained Faeser. The SPD politician thinks it is “important that the associations fulfill their responsibility”. The federal government has “a clear stance and we will not deviate from it.”
However, the DOSB’s attitude now deviates from this. On the sidelines of the general meeting it was announced that the association had already “adjusted” its course at a presidium meeting on November 4, 2023, as Weikert called it. The DOSB, like the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and many other national Olympic committees and professional associations, now supports athletes from Russia and Belarus starting under neutral status.
The IOC only awards games to countries where there are no entry restrictions for athletes or support staff. In Germany, active individuals from Russia are currently subject to a case-by-case assessment. The DOSB denies a connection between the IOC line and its own new course.