Frustration is growing within the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) concerning Friedrich Merz (CDU) due to the continued emptiness of the top position in the central government portfolio for sports. More than a month after his CDU party associate, Christiane Schenderlein, was dismissed, Merz has yet to find a replacement for the role of State Minister for Sport.
Otto Fricke, the CEO of DOSB, told Spiegel that if they proceed to the first reading of the budget next week without a State Minister or State Minister for Sport and Voluntary Service, there is a risk of falling behind financially. He emphasized that this situation requires action from Merz.
It is reported that Merz is looking for a highly visible person to replace Schenderlein. His preferred candidate was reportedly former world footballer Nadine Keßler, who currently works for the European Football Association UEFA, but Keßler has supposedly declined the opportunity.
“This drawn-out process must be wrapped up immediately,” Fricke stated. He believes the matter must be settled by September 26th, the date when the next German applicant for the hosting of the Olympic and Paralympic Games will be decided. Fricke anticipates that this decision will be made “in the presence of a new State Minister or a new State Minister.”
