Sport in focus: Dr. Schenderlein discusses the future in the Bundestag!

Sport in focus: Dr. Schenderlein discusses the future in the Bundestag!

On June 4, 2025, a public meeting of the Committee for Sports and Volunteering took place in the Paul-Löbe-Haus in Berlin. At 2 p.m. the members met to discuss the item on the agenda with Dr. Christiane Schenderlein (CDU), the State Minister for Sport and Volunteering. A central concern of this meeting was to discuss the committee's core tasks, which include both the promotion and financing of sustainable framework conditions for top-class sport. Support for sport for people with disabilities and regulations to combat doping and manipulation were also on the agenda. In addition, the social significance of sport in various areas such as education, health, integration and business was discussed. Another important aspect was volunteering in Germany, with the aim of improving volunteer-friendly conditions.

Sport has a particularly high status in Germany and is not only culturally rooted, but also historically anchored in a variety of ways. The article by Sport-Nachgedacht describes the structures of sport in Germany and emphasizes that physical education and school sport are firmly integrated into the German education system. It is noted that Germany, together with Sweden, made a significant contribution to the development of the gymnastics movement. Since the 1950s, sports organizations have enjoyed proven autonomy, which means that although they receive subsidiary support from the state, they are highly dependent on their own financial resources.

Organizational structures of sport

In German sport there is a complex interaction between politics, business, mass media and the education system. The article highlights that the military plays a crucial role in high performance sport. Germany has also played an important role in scientific reflection on sport, with sport science being the first to be institutionally recognized in this country. German support also contributed knowledge to the development of the Olympic movement. For example, the 1972 Olympics took place in Munich, which was of great international importance.

The structures of sport in Germany are based on three pillars: state-initiated offerings, the private sector and the non-profit offerings of the clubs. There are currently 89,594 sports clubs in Germany, which are divided into single-division and multi-division clubs. Over 27.4 million people are organized in these associations, which increases the level of organization to over 33%, although there are regional differences.

Challenges in sport

The challenges facing sport in Germany are diverse. Doping fraud, corruption and manipulation represent serious problems, particularly in the field of high-performance sports. The “Sport for All” initiatives, which have existed since the 1950s, are considered great successes. The focus here is on promoting active participation in sports, with Germany having exemplary statistical values ​​in an international comparison.

Another important point is the role of fitness studios, which have over 10.08 million members in Germany - a top figure in Europe. These facilities have become central locations for communication, health and entertainment, underscoring their place as a significant economic driver in the country.

With the upcoming discussions about the social and personnel structures of sport in Germany, it will be interesting to see how the structures continue to develop and can be adapted to the new challenges. The upcoming meeting will address further detailed aspects of these structures.