Top-Level Sports : Germany

Germany has national sports centers and Olympic training facilities as well as many regional centers affording top-notch athletes the opportunity to hone their skills with the necessary comprehensive backup support. The armed forces, too, develop talent in their own facilities. Today top athletes must undergo intensive training with full health care and a certain measure of financial security. The responsibility of financing these support services is shared by the sports associations and the Stiftung Deutsche Sporthilfe (Sports Aid Foundation), which was established in 1967. It regards itself as a social welfare organization and strives to ensure that athletes enjoy the financial security necessary to enable them to focus their energies totally on their sport. It also helps them obtain qualifications for the time when they leave competitive sports. The Sports Aid Foundation is not a governmental organization. Its funds come from private donors, the sale of special postage stamps on sporting themes, and the television lottery “Gliicksspirale”.

Membership of the top ten sports associations in Germany

Top ten sports associations in 1996

German Football Federation 5,878,412
German Gymnastics Federation 4,646,068
German Tennis Federation 2,292,659
German Shooting Federation 1,558,971
Deutscher Handball-Bund 832,232
German Athletics Association 822,572
Deutscher Tischtennis-Bund 740,585
German Equestrian Association 694,373
German Ski Federation 690,120
German Swimming Federation 630,983