State Minister for Sport Christiane Schenderlein (CDU) has denied reports that Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt (CSU) has vetoed the planned Sports Funding Act. Speaking to RTL and ntv, Schenderlein said she would not describe it as a veto, but rather that there is still “clarification needed at certain points”.
The new Act aims to reshape elite sports funding by establishing an independent sports agency that will make funding decisions. Schenderlein called this a “paradigm shift” and stressed that the final law should ultimately be good.
Regarding criticism from the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), Schenderlein noted that there has been “broad discussion on the issue” even involving the DOSB as the key sports stakeholder, and that the ministry is engaged in “good talks” with the relevant departments.
She defended the realignment of support, pointing out that success in elite sport is measured by medal counts, and that funding should increasingly fall under the hands of experts. “We entrust the support to specialists” she emphasized.
At the same time, Schenderlein highlighted the state’s role in ensuring proper use of public funds: “This concerns tax money, and it must be used appropriately”.
