Hoermann Fills Bach's Shoes at DOSB

(ATR) Alfons Hoermann was elected president of the German Olympic Sports Confederation Saturday, replacing Thomas Bach, who quit to become head of the IOC.

Hoermann, who received 434 votes from the 459 voting delegates, will serve a one-year term. A vote for another four-year term is scheduled for next December at the DOSB’s general assembly.

Bach was named honorary president.

"It makes me speechless. By this trust, I feel encouraged to start the marathon with a strong presidency," said the 53-year-old Hoermann, who was head of the German skiing federation for eight years.

Hoermann faces a series of challenges in his new role.

The German team’s preparations for the Sochi Olympics will be foremost in his mind. He has also prioritized the fight against doping.

Tackling a shortfall in finances is also ahead.

According to calculations of the German federations, the DOSB must raise 38 million euros to hold the top-class sport at its present level.

He will hope to receive more support from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which currently contributes about 130 million euros per year to high-performance sport in Germany.

But Minister of the Interior Hans-Peter Friedrich rejected this expectation on Saturday in Wiesbaden, saying that the DOSB should not expect its wishes to be granted.

He did not rule out a cut in the budget of high-performance sport and called for the organization to keep a tight rein on its finances and seek efficiencies.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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