German Government Proposes New Sports Funding Law Amid Olympic Performance Slump

Germany's Olympic sports face a stark performance decline, sparking government action through a proposed legislative reform aimed at improving athlete funding and support. Despite high expectations, German athletes have underperformed at recent Olympics, securing only six medals so far, including two surprising wins in ski jumping and skicross. This shortfall is attributed to systemic issues within the sports funding and support structure.

Sports Minister Christiane Schenderlein (CDU) has introduced a new law to establish an independent agency tasked with distributing financial support more effectively. Currently, athletes receive only around 700 to 800 euros monthly from the Sporthilfe, an amount many find insufficient to cover training and living costs without external help from sponsors or family. Marathon runner Fabienne Königstein exemplifies these financial struggles faced by athletes.

The envisioned agency aims to shift away from the existing model, which links fund allocation to sports federations based on past performance and potential, toward a more targeted, athlete-centered system. This change seeks to alleviate financial pressures and foster better Olympic outcomes. While the proposal enjoys political support and aligns with plans floated by the previous government, it also encounters criticism. The AfD flags concerns about added bureaucracy, and the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) worries about losing influence.

Sports scientist Lutz Thieme endorses the reform, highlighting its potential to catalyze essential improvements in Germany’s performance sports framework. The agency is projected to become fully functional within five years, presenting a hopeful outlook for reversing the current downward trend and bolstering Germany’s future Olympic achievements.