Angela Merkel gives speech at 10th anniversary of German Olympic Sports Federation

German chancellor Angela Merkel has attended the 10th anniversary of the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB) to speak in front of sport officials in Frankfurt on Friday.

Ten years ago the DOSB was founded, after a merger of the National Olympic Committee (NOK) and the German Sport Association (DSB), to become one of the biggest governing bodies in the sports world.

In the light of the 10th anniversary, DOSB president Alfons Hoermann invited a number of sport officials as well as German politicians, amongst them, chancellor Angela Merkel and the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach for the ceremonial act in the Paulskirche.

Alfons Hoermann welcomed the officials and guests, saying that the merge of the NOK and DSB was "appropriate, necessary and important." The current DOSB president said that the balance of activities is something to be proud of. "We adjusted the structure and we achieved a financial progress."

Nevertheless, Hoermann did not forget that Hamburg' s citizens voted "No" in the 2024 Olympics referendum back in November 2015. "This loss still hurts," Hoermann said. He summarized that after ten years the "DOSB has a lot to preserve but also a lot to change."

IOC president Thomas Bach, who was from May 2006 until September 2013 in charge at the head of the DOSB, praised the work of his successor Hoermann and the Federation. "The DOSB has no reason to hide its light under a bushel as it enjoys much respect abroad."

Angel Merkel attended the DOSB' s anniversary as well and congratulated. "The last ten years were full of sportive highlights and successes. Therefore, I would like to congratulate on behalf of the German Federal Government."

The German chancellor emphasized how important sport is for the social coexistence as well as the integration of refugees. "Sport reduces the fear of contact and brings people together. It is therefore an excellent engine for integration."

The German Federal Government supports the program "Integration through Sport" since 25 years in cooperation with the DOSB. "This program has proven itself. The federal funds have been redoubled to 11 million Euros. I think that is a very worthwhile investment because joining a sports club allows new arrivals to make initial contacts, to get to know our country better and to find a good place in our society."

Merkel stressed how vital it is to have volunteers, "who are the spinal of the mass sport" , and who support youngsters finding their way to the forefront. "The path to become a top athlete is tough. We need young people, who say yes to professional sport, and who give everything for their own success but also for the success of their country."

The chancellor also urged that the sport should not lose its credibility, as the Sport "exerts its positive effect only when its integrity is assured. Manipulation, doping and corruption have no place in sport."

Angela Merkel concluded the ceremonial act by saying: "If it is true that sport is a reflection of society, then our country can be really proud. The DOSB and all its members have large shares on it."

The German Olympic Sports Federation is seated in Frankfurt and represents 90,000 clubs and 27,000,000 members which is a third of Germany' s population. Endit