Maximilian Klein, Deputy Managing Director of Athleten Deutschland, expressed enthusiasm for the funding boost. "We are pleased with this gesture from federal politics. Without this support, many elite sports careers would be unattainable. As we finalise the budget, we hope to see improvements in the challenging funding situation for coaches and prioritise the development of Olympic support centres as service providers for athletes."

Addressing inefficiencies and enhancing athlete security

The increased funding brings heightened responsibility to address inefficiencies and misincentives in the use of funds as part of the ongoing elite sports reform. Klein emphasised the need for better social and material security for athletes, especially those without dedicated sports funding positions. 

"We hope that the social and material security of athletes, particularly those without specific sports funding, will become a central focus of both politics and organised sports. The Sports Funding Act has the potential to legally optimize these aspects. However, past and current efforts have not sufficiently addressed these issues despite well-known risks for athletes," Klein pointed out. 

He urged that the cadre status should enshrine individual security claims in the law, including minimum monthly support, comprehensive insurance, retirement provisions, protection against exclusion from the cadre, and regulations for parenthood.

Financial pressures impacting athletic performance

Following the Tokyo Games, a 2021 survey revealed that over a third of athletes struggled to focus on their sports due to financial concerns. The federal athletes' funding of approximately seven million euros, introduced in 2019, has not seen significant increases, resulting in a roughly 22 percent loss in purchasing power due to inflation. 

While athletes with sports funding positions have benefited from salary increases, independent athletes have not. "It is clear to us that athletes also need inflation compensation," Klein asserted.

Fair working conditions as a fundamental principle

Klein also highlighted the importance of fair working conditions to attract future generations to sports careers. "If the state and society choose to support talented young people in their pursuit of excellence, a minimum level of social and material security, along with fair working conditions, must be fundamental to this support strategy," he said.

Support for independent athlete representation

The federal funding also significantly supports the operation and added value of Athleten Deutschland as an independent athlete representation at the federal level. "We are incredibly grateful for the continued support. We aim to broaden the financing of the association in the future," Klein concluded, outlining the organisation's ongoing plans.