The Deutsche Sporthilfe foundation has presented a comprehensive reform proposal aimed at revitalizing Germany's elite sports system, citing declining medal counts despite rising costs. The 13-page position paper, unveiled in Frankfurt am Main, outlines far-reaching demands including increased basic funding for athletes, reform of coaching positions, and consolidation of federal training centers.
Max Hartung, board member of Sporthilfe, emphasized that the foundation aims to play a more active role in shaping sports policy rather than simply distributing funds. "We don't just collect money and give it to the athletes. We want to participate in the design," Hartung stated during a media briefing. The proposal calls for increasing monthly basic funding for the Top Team from €800 to €1,500 and for the Potential Team from €700 to €1,000, citing higher living costs and elite sports requirements.
The foundation argues that limited resources should be used more strategically to create "high-end infrastructure" rather than simply seeking additional funding. Karsten Petry, another board member, noted that German sports are in "continuous decline" in terms of medals despite increasing expenditures. The proposal suggests bundling and strengthening existing federal training centers to create more effective support systems for athletes.
Under the title "Daring More Performance - For Tomorrow's Elite Sports," the foundation makes its first concrete suggestions for making the system future-proof after more than ten years of stalled sports reform efforts. The plan emphasizes the need for accessible youth sports systems, independent nomination processes, and professional coaching positions at properly equipped Olympic training centers to ensure genuine elite development.
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