Presenter Gerhard Delling
He has this advice for the future for his daughters
Despite his TV pension, Gerhard Delling has numerous projects – here as a moderator at the EuroMinds economic summit.
© Offenblen.de
In an interview, former sports presenter Gerhard Delling talks about current projects and the future – and how we can secure them.
Gerhard Delling (64) may be in TV retirement. For the EuroMinds economic summit in Hamburg, the former “Sportschau” counterpart to Günter Netzer (78) went back to his job as a moderator. On the sidelines of the event, he spoke to the news agency spot on news about future tips for his daughters, private drama and Robert Habeck.
Mr. Delling, in the last few months there has been a lot of argument in the traffic light on the subject of energy transition. Who is closer to you, Economics Minister Robert Habeck from the Greens or Finance Minister Christian Lindner from the FDP?
Gerhard Delling: I like Robert Habeck. I have also been in favor of consistent environmental protection for decades. But it can only work according to a plan and with the people and not if one group has a smart idea that others should pay for. As finance minister, Christian Lindner has to ensure efficient financing, even if it makes himself unpopular. In addition, like him, I am convinced that the future lies in scientific and economic progress.
Do you prefer a heat pump or solar?
Delling: I wanted to equip my house with photovoltaics 30 years ago, and the technology wasn’t that advanced back then. But for the most part it’s going very well now.
E-mobile or car sharing?
Delling: I drive an E-Smart and I’m stunned that it’s no longer being built because that Car is awesome especially for the city. It charges quickly and has a range of 190 kilometers in summer. Otherwise, I like to ride my bike because it is always fitness training for me.
Is renunciation a solution for climate protection?
Delling: Renunciation automatically means that I restrict myself in my head and only focus on limitation instead of improvement. Renunciation only makes sense if it generates sustainable improvements.
From sports moderation to novelist. Her second novel, Alone in the Fight for My Children. Kidnapping, Alienation, System Failure, will be published in September. How did you get into writing?
Delling: Even as a boy I liked to write. Mostly what moved me, often packed into stories. However, for a long time it never made it to the book. My first title was a personal volume of stories on 50 years of the Bundesliga. My first novel was inspired by the life story of my grandmother, who founded her own family business after the war.
In recent months, they have stood by their partner Christina Block, whose ex-partner took away two of their four children, took them to Denmark and has since forbidden contact with the mother. Do you also deal with your personal experiences in your book?
Delling: I incorporated some of my personal experiences during this time. But it’s an overarching fictional story, almost a detective story. But above all, a story that will hopefully provoke discussion and plot changes. In my experience, something is wrong with the system – which in these cases means that it cannot be made good with money, but whole families, but especially children, suffer for a lifetime. I couldn’t stand it without doing anything.
The courts had agreed with her partner, but she is still denied contact with her own children. You don’t understand.
Delling: And that sucks. The powerlessness and injustice are terrible, but the fear for the children is unbearable. It is incomprehensible why court judgments are passed, injustice and danger for the children are named by the courts, but no action is taken.
Is there hope?
Delling: I hope so. Especially since Christina admirably doesn’t stop fighting for her children for a second.
You have three daughters yourself from two previous relationships. Was there a fight there?
Delling: Well, initially it’s always difficult for everyone involved. But fortunately that never got out of hand. We wanted children and we always want them to be happy. If that’s not the case, it’s all the worse for us. We always agreed on that.
As a father, you are also committed to a better future for your daughters. What advice would you give your children along the way?
Delling: The best thing would be to ask yourself a few basic questions as a young adult. Listen to yourself in a quiet place for a while without your cell phone and distractions: What do I actually want? In a relationship? At work, for my life? A plan is always better and can protect against disappointment. Even if it usually turns out very differently. But it has a conscious and therefore correct beginning.
What are your plans for the future?
Delling: Learn, meet people, stay active. Professionally, I am interested in digital media. TV isn’t out of the question either: I’d still be interested in a talk show like the one I’ve had on WDR – or a good sports show. But that doesn’t have to be the case; I have such interesting other fields of activity. I like to “work” – or to put it another way: I’m (almost) always free…