Largely unnoticed by the public and the media, fundamental changes are taking shape in German sports policy. As part of the objective to “support grassroots sport in Germany with targeted assistance (…)”, the federal government, under the leadership of the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI), is no longer focusing solely on elite sport, but is also becoming increasingly involved in the leisure and grassroots sport sectors.
The ‘Restart Germany – Sport Moves Germany’ programme, the Physical Activity Summit in December 2022 and the drafting of a ‘Sports Development Plan’ are all aimed at strengthening sporting activities and involvement in sports clubs. At the same time, government bodies at federal level are also playing a proactive role in the debates surrounding elite sport reform and the ‘safe sport’ centre.
Against the backdrop of these developments, the 12th Symposium on Sports Policy examined the changing structures of German sports policy. The main focus was on investigating whether, and to what extent, there has been a shift in power, function and perspective within the traditionally differentiated, multi-level federal system of German sport.
Particular attention was paid to the local and regional levels of sport, which have remained largely unexplored to date.
In contrast to the open events of previous years, this year’s symposium took the form of an expert workshop.
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Venue: German Sport University Cologne, Senate Hall in Institute Building II
Date: Friday, 24 November 2023, 10:00–18:00
Sports federations form a central pillar of organised sport, as they make a fundamental contribution to policy-making and decision-making within sport. They play a key role in implementing competition rules, but their regulations also shape the image and social embeddedness of sport. Owing to the significance of their decisions, but also in light of criticism of previous forms of decision-making, the structures of sports federations have come increasingly under the scrutiny of the media and the public in recent years.
In Germany, the question of the sustainability of the current structures of sports federations has been sparked primarily by internal controversies within the DFB and the DOSB. Among other things, it has been criticised that the full range of interests is not adequately represented and that there is a lack of internal participation within the federations.
Against the backdrop of these debates, the symposium put this criticism to the test and focused primarily on internal democracy within sports federations. The event thus aimed to shed light on both the fundamental structures and the current processes of change and potential for change within sports federations, through a collaboration between academia and practice.
To this end, the symposium addressed, amongst other things, the formal regulations within federations, such as statutes and elections, whilst also examining opportunities for participation and communication structures within the federations. Issues of leadership and governance were examined, as were structures relating to diversity and participation. The individual topics were largely examined through ‘parallel presentations’ offering both academic and practical perspectives from within the federations.
Organising Committee
Venue:
Representation of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia to the Federal Government | Hiroshimastraße 12–16 | 10785 Berlin
Date:
14 June 2022, 10.00–20.00
Responsible: Prof. Dr Jürgen Mittag, IESF
; PD Dr Christoph Seidel, Foundation for the History of the Ruhr Region
; Prof. Dr Walfried König, Spokesperson for the Forum on Sports Policy
Programme leaflet
Background: The debate surrounding the ‘Rhein Ruhr City 2032’ bid for the 2032 Olympic Games is currently fuelling intensified discussions about the significance of sport in the Ruhr region and in North Rhine-Westphalia. In this context, attention is not only focused on public support for hosting a major sporting event such as the Olympic Games, but the question also arises as to the roots and development of sport along the Rhine and Ruhr.
The Ruhr region, in particular, is regarded as one of the world’s most important centres for football. However, the strong presence of football obscures the broader sporting landscape of the Ruhr region and North Rhine-Westphalia, and has contributed to the region’s diverse sporting history falling almost entirely into oblivion. Whether six-day races or boxing matches, whether the Ruhr Olympics or the World Games, whether Olympic champions or world champions: numerous competitions, events and figures from the region’s sporting history have now been consigned to oblivion. This applies not least to numerous clubs and sports venues.
With the aim of shedding light on key stages in the development of sport in the Ruhr area and the region of North Rhine-Westphalia, the symposium will address seven central issues relating to regional sports development. In addition to specific historical periods, the symposium will also focus on key players in sport, sporting disciplines, sports venues, major sporting events, prominent figures in sport and socio-political interactions.
The event was financially supported by Evonik Industries AG.