"Sport is a social anchor"

The interview with Stefan Klett takes place in Duisburg between two other appointments. The President of the State Sports Association (LSB) then has to go to the government in Düsseldorf to talk about the future of organized sport. Because after the pandemic, the energy crisis is threatening many clubs. In the LSB headquarters, Klett explains the current challenges for organized sport with around five million members nationwide.

WELT AM SONNTAG: Mr. Klett, the skyrocketing energy prices are also having a massive impact on athletes. Chilled swimming pools and cold sports halls - who can help the clubs?

Stefan Klett: First of all, we try to save 20 percent of the energy costs in the clubs and schools in organized sport in order to make our contribution. Then it's about using more of the clubs' own funds, where that's feasible. On the other hand, it would send the wrong signal to increase membership fees in the first place. Because unlike in the pandemic, almost all people have already been hit financially by the energy crisis.

WELT AM SONNTAG: Many clubs have also lost members due to the pandemic.

Klett: That's right, we initially lost about 166,000 members in the clubs. In comparison, there are now around 17,500 more members, including mainly children and young people, a small turnaround. Due to the non-profit model, our sports clubs are not allowed to build up large reserves, so many are quickly at the end of their financial possibilities. The buffers they may have have been largely used up by Corona. Therefore, in addition to a general energy price brake for the clubs, we are demanding a rescue package, as we already had with Corona.

WELT AM SONNTAG: What should that look like in concrete terms?

Klett: We don't want a special solution, but we've been saying for weeks: If a rescue package comes, then sport should also be considered. And in the defense shield published by the federal government at the end of September, it finally worked out that the clubs are also explicitly mentioned - so our intensive lobbying towards the federal and state governments has paid off. We also have to work closely with the municipalities. After all, of the 17,700 clubs in the state, 6,000 have their own sports facilities, while 12,000 are active in municipal sports facilities.

WELT AM SONNTAG: Many systems are getting old and need to be renovated. How do the clubs plan to do this?

Klett: Fortunately, we have already benefited from the special program "Modern Sports Facilities" launched by the then state government in 2019. Since then, 300 million euros have flowed into all district and city sports associations. As a result, sports clubs and municipalities got together and looked at where these funds should best be used - from the renovated clubhouse to modern sanitary facilities and energy improvements. Such a program must also exist in a similar way in the future.

WELT AM SONNTAG: How important is club sport in society?

Klett: The sports club is usually the largest civil society organization, both in the state and in the districts, cities and municipalities. That is why it naturally plays a special role in everyday social life. For example, in the integration of people with a migration background, the inclusion of people with disabilities and the integration of socially disadvantaged people. This works wonderfully in sports, even without many words, just with movement, games and fun. And it applies to young and old, sport is ultimately a social anchor that also reduces people's fears about the future, which we are currently seeing widespread.

WELT AM SONNTAG: So you have children and young people in particular in mind?

Klett: Yes, because this is where the foundations for as active a life as possible are laid. When children and young people try out sports, they get less sick and are less likely to be overweight. We also know that their cognitive abilities can be enhanced when exercise is involved. That is why physical education in schools should not be the first thing to be done away with, quite apart from the absolutely guaranteed access to swimming opportunities - otherwise the already alarmingly deteriorated ability to swim will go even further down the drain.

WELT AM SONNTAG: Do you still have enough volunteer leaders and helpers?

Klett: Here in North Rhine-Westphalia we are talking about around 500,000 people who are volunteering in some way. For example in elective functions such as chairman or treasurer, or in helping functions. I'm thinking here of exercise and youth leaders as well as countless "carers" at tournaments or driving services. And of those 500,000, we've lost an estimated 20 percent.

WELT AM SONNTAG: What is the background here?

Klett: There are very different reasons. For example, because people want to devote more time to their family or to a dog they got during the Corona period. As a result, clubs also have to reduce the offer because there is a lack of staff. Here we try to win people back through funding initiatives and incentives. We support the approximately 80,000 trainers with over 7.5 million euros per year.

WELT AM SONNTAG: There are also cases of sexual abuse of children and young people in sports. What is the LSB doing to prevent this?

Klett: Sport is a part and a reflection of society, both positively and negatively. In mid-September, we ourselves published the results of a hitherto unique popular sports study "Safe in Sport", which we financed with several state sports associations. More than 4,300 people and around 300 sports associations were interviewed - with three key findings: Experiences of violence in organized sport are clearly not isolated cases, girls and women have significantly more negative experiences than male members. On the other hand, nine out of ten affected people emphasized their generally good to very good experiences with their sports club.

WELT AM SONNTAG: And how do you help those affected?

Klett: First and foremost, concrete contact points and elaborate protection concepts must be established. As the LSB NRW, we have been active in the field of prevention or advice in a pioneering role for over 25 years. We now have ten coordination centers across the country where contact persons are available with absolute confidentiality to discuss any necessary steps together.

WELT AM SONNTAG: Finally, a question about the Olympic Games in the Rhine and Ruhr, how is the situation there?

Klett: The next games have been assigned by the IOC, from 2024 in Paris to 2032 in Brisbane. NRW had brought itself into play for 2032, unfortunately without success. Parts of politics and sport are currently discussing which games you could apply for. The German Olympic Sports Confederation currently sees 2034 for the winter games or 2036 for the summer games as an opportunity to apply to host. Several federal states could also be involved. We would continue to expect many positive aspects from the summer games here in NRW, in terms of infrastructure and also for popular sport. Such games must primarily serve sport and meet with a high level of acceptance among the population.