Bach to German NOC: We are on Your Side

(ATR) According to DOSB President Alfons Hörmann, a cancellation of the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo would have had fatal economic consequences for international sport.

"If the games should not take place or even twice in a row, then this would have financial implications at all levels across the world sport that most people cannot even imagine," said the head of the German Olympic Sports Federation.

In a video message for the virtual general meeting of the German Olympic Sports Confederation on Saturday, the President of the International Olympic Committee IOC, Thomas Bach, confirmed the will to host the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

"Everywhere there is great determination to make these Olympic Games a great success and to shine the light at the end of Corona tunnels, in which we are unfortunately still located. Therefore we can work with confidence in these Olympic Games and the opening ceremony on 23 July next year in Tokyo."

Bach, also honorary president of the DOSB, also called for the German athletes to encourage them to develop their skills even under these difficult conditions.

The IOC is on the side of the NOC. "The German Olympic Sports Confederation can profit from the marketing of the IOC. IOC will have around 30 million euros ($36 million) at its disposal for this Olympics to prepare and support the Olympic athletes well," said Bach.

"Therefore let us enter this extraordinary Olympic year 2021 and show that the sport is able to play its role in society and is responsible for to provide a better society."

A German bid for the Olympic Games is not expected until next year. According to Hörmann, the DOSB is continuously in dialogue with the IOC and within the sports family in Germany and the Rhine-Ruhr 2032 initiative.

"We have a common coordinated timetable and want to start next year with the question whether it should become a concrete project," he said.

A "strategy for major sporting events" is to be developed for Germany to strategically strengthen its position as the world champion in events.

"Perhaps the successful bid for the Paralympic and Olympic Games will be the result of this strategy. This is not a must, but an opportunity", said Stephan Mayer, Parliamentary State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

The pandemic threatens large parts of sport and its existence. "But the effects go far beyond the financial damage," says Hörmann. Ninety percent of the associations assumed that they would have to restrict offers, lose members or send fewer teams to competitions.

The Federal Ministry of the Interior supported German sport in the coronavirus crisis and further support is promised.

"We are doing everything we could to provide the sport with great commitment," said the Parliamentary State Secretary.

For 2021, the state subsidies would be increased again and subject to the adoption of the budget by the Bundestag will be raised to 291 million euros ($353 million) in the coming week. "Next year we will have another record budget," said the CSU politician. For 2020, the federal government had given sport 279 million euros ($338 million). Plus the planned Corona aid, the federal government is providing around 600 million euros ($728 million) directly to the sport disposition," said Mayer.

Written by Heinz Peter Kreuzer

For general comments or questions,click here.

Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.