DOSB general meeting
Decisions: Olympic bid, sports reform and women’s quota
DOSB President Thomas Weikert speaks at the DOSB general meeting. photo
© Thomas Frey/dpa
The delegates to the DOSB general meeting had a lot to decide in Frankfurt. In addition to decisions on the Olympic bid and sports reform, there was also a women’s quota and safe sport.
At the general meeting of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) on Saturday in Frankfurt/Main a number of groundbreaking and important decisions were made for the future. There are also two major projects that are intended to fundamentally change German sport.
Olympic bid
With the adoption of a “Frankfurt Declaration”, the DOSB was given the task of developing an application concept. This is scheduled to be presented in summer 2024. It summarizes the expectations, wishes and criticism of the population that have been collected since July in surveys, dialogue forums and in the digital area. The decision on a candidacy for the Olympics should be made at the next DOSB general meeting in December 2024 in Saarbrücken. Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig and Munich have officially announced their desire to become hosts. Which cities will be considered for an application – most likely for the 2036 or 2040 Summer Games – should also be decided by mid-2024.
Elite sport reform
With the approval of the detailed concept for the reform of top-class sports promotion and management, the go-ahead has been given for implementation. The aim is to stop the downward trend and decline in medal wins at the Olympic Games, World and European Championships. An independent sports agency and a sports funding law are central elements. The agency should be operational by 2025. The law is scheduled to be passed in the Bundestag by the end of next year. It is intended to enable reliable financing of competitive sports over longer periods of time and from year to year. The reform is not expected to have an effect before the 2032 Olympic Games.
Contribution increase
For the first time in 16 years, the DOSB is receiving more money from its member organizations. From January 1, 2025, your contribution to the umbrella organization will increase from nine cents per membership to 14 cents. This is intended to avert a structural deficit due to cost increases and inflation in the DOSB budget. The Executive Board’s request for “appropriate compensation for expenses”, as other associations have, was withdrawn. A concrete proposal will be presented next year.
Women’s quota
A mandatory regulation was decided to comply with the percentage participation of men and women when sending delegates to the general meeting. From 2026 onwards, each gender must be represented at least 30 percent of a member organization’s delegates – otherwise there is a risk of a reduction in voting rights.
Safe Sport future plan
The Safe Sport future plan forms the DOSB’s overall strategy for protection against violence in sport and includes goals and measures that are to be implemented over the next ten years.
New associations
The German Cricket Association will be accepted into the DOSB as the 100th member organization on January 1, 2024, as will the German Lacrosse Association. Both sports have been added to the competition program for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The German associations for American football, baseball and softball as well as squash will be transferred from non-Olympic to Olympic sports next year. These sports are also in the Summer Games program in 2028.