While in Berlin The political summer break has begun, the 20th legislative period is already approaching its halfway point. Teamsport Germany – the interest group of the five largest German (professional) team sports associations – would like to use this opportunity to introduce both the faces behind the association and its core positions and topics. Over the course of the following weeks, we look forward to welcoming individual association presidents as interview guests for precisely this purpose. An exciting series of interviews that promises deep insights into where German team sports see a need for collective action and how a practice is formed in which basketball, ice hockey, football, handball and volleyball pull together in the same political direction.
In the current issue we welcome Dr. Peter Merten, President of the German Ice Hockey Federation, with whom we will talk, among other things, about the 2027 World Cup at home, the need for an intact German sports facility infrastructure and the role of volunteerism in sport.
Question 1: Dr. Merten, you are one of the five association presidents who pull together politically within the Teamsport Germany interest group. How do you feel about the collaboration with your colleagues from other team sports and why is the Deutscher Eishockey-Bund seeking political solidarity with the other German team sports associations?
In my opinion, the collaboration within Teamsport Germany is very important and productive because the topics relevant to the five member associations are always the same and we can leverage synergies. In this respect, we coordinate politically when it comes to common topics, such as sports facility infrastructure, volunteer work or major sporting events. Here I consider Teamsport Germany to be essential as a representation of the interests of team sports, alongside the DOSB. Particularly in view of the specifics of (professional) team sports and the extensive social penetration, which ranges from elite to popular sports. Teamsport Germany serves us, on the one hand, as a very valuable network with each other but also with politicians, and on the other hand, as an important mouthpiece for five sports that not only represent the majority of professional athletes in Germany, but also a very large part of them population moves.
Question 2: You have already touched on the topic of sports facilities, what special needs does your sport, ice hockey, have in terms of sports facility infrastructure? Where do you see the greatest need for action here - perhaps with a view to your own association - where change needs to take place?
In the current energy policy situation, ice hockey is particularly targeted at sports facilities, that is clear. It is also clear that we in Germany have a deficit when it comes to sports facility infrastructure. We know that the majority of our 200 ice rinks are no longer of newer date and are therefore not optimally designed in terms of energy. Basically, I am firmly convinced that in ice hockey we need energy and our CO2-Footprint could be sustainably improved relatively quickly through renovated or new ice rinks. With a view to climate protection but also the energy crisis, we founded a working group in our association a year ago on the topic of ice sports and sustainability. Together with the ice hockey associations and partners from the industry, solutions for a more sustainable ice sport are outlined here DEB will be presented at the upcoming FSB trade fair in Cologne. “Sustainable sports facility infrastructure in ice sports is the issue of our time! “An opportunity through the 2027 Ice Hockey World Championship in Germany” is the motto of the event on October 24, 2023 in the Cologne Trade Fair. However, we, organized sport and the municipalities urgently need funds for this. Since the German ice rinks, like most sports facilities in Germany, are owned by the municipalities, there needs to be consistent solidarity between sport and politics, especially at the federal and state levels. But this doesn't just apply to ice rinks.
Ultimately, investments in sports facilities are investments in the future of ice hockey in Germany. This is urgently needed if we want to experience the successes that we are currently enjoying in the future and also to inspire young talent for our sport in the long term. On the one hand, we must therefore invest in sports facilities for youth and young talent teams, as well as women's ice hockey - but on the other hand, of course, also in sports facilities for the professional sector. Incidentally, I believe that a very good sports facility infrastructure across the board is a crucial basis for generating increased acceptance among the population for major international sporting events such as the Olympics or World Championships in the future. For example, we have received approval ratings of over 90% of our ice hockey fans for the 2027 home World Cup, which we will play in the existing top arenas in Mannheim and Düsseldorf.
Question 3: You are addressing the federal and state governments. What specifically needs to happen now to sustainably overcome the current renovation backlog at German sports facilities and what role do you and Teamsport Germany play in this?
My appeal to politicians: Don't save on the infrastructure in sport and support the innovative approaches DEB, even in times when resources are scarce. In the few cases that I know of where things are currently making real progress, a private sponsor is always involved - for example in Kassel or Nauheim. As grateful as we are to the private sector at this point, we must also say clearly that they cannot take over the tasks of the public sector. Let us see the investment in the sports facility infrastructure not only as an investment in sport, but also as an opportunity for energy optimization, especially in relation to ice sports, from which we will benefit for a long time to come. However, this is only possible through the appropriate provision of funds at the federal level. In this context, the digital sports atlas can also serve as an adequate data basis for targeted and sport-specific funding. These grants are extremely important for the preservation and further development of our sports - for example in the area of our young talent development.
Question 4: You have also already mentioned the 2027 home World Cup. What significance does this tournament have for you and him? DEB?
We are very pleased that we were awarded the IIHF's contract for the 2027 World Championship with a support of 75% of the delegates. That was - despite our efforts to host it - a really nice surprise! The 2027 World Cup will be a flagship project for us with regard to the optimal implementation of major sporting events. With regard to the previous question, I would like to point out that the energy-efficient renovation of sports facilities is just one important point in this context. When it comes to sustainability, in addition to our stadiums in Mannheim and Düsseldorf, which are both powered by green energy, we have set far-reaching goals for both local and long-distance transport around the tournament. Furthermore, societal and social aspects, digitalization and economic success must be consistently considered in the next four years leading up to the World Cup. We want to combine this with the best possible performance of our national team in our own country - the focus is of course on the sporting success of our national team.
Question 5: Another much-discussed topic is the promotion of volunteer work. Without volunteers Doing sports in Germany would hardly be possible. What approaches do you see for sustainably developing voluntary work?
We know that amateur sport in particular depends entirely on volunteerism and that this would not be possible without the commitment of so many motivated people. In ice hockey in particular, we have many examples where kindergarten children are already brought onto the ice with the well-known penguin aids. Ice hockey is lived there from an early age. And it's the same with other sports, regardless of whether it's parents who provide driving services or trainers and carers who invest their evenings and weekends. I would like to thank all of these motivated and committed people from the bottom of my heart, because they are the reason why sports Germany can exist in such a broad way!
I hope that politicians will continue to see and appreciate this accordingly. We, as Team Sport Germany, have developed a catalog of measures with which we will approach federal politics in a timely manner. There is still a need for political optimization both in voluntary work and in the area of non-profit work.
Of course, one must also recognize that a certain professionalization of structures - especially in top-class sport - is essential in order to be competitive, especially in international competition. However, I am firmly convinced that voluntary work will also benefit from strengthening the main office. We owe it to the people who work on a voluntary basis to create a framework in which the focus is on their enjoyment of carrying out their duties and is not rooted in the unpleasant certainty that without their commitment no youth training or tournament could take place on the weekend.
Question 6: Dr. Merten, thank you very much for these classifications and insights. Some important major sporting events – some on German soil – are already casting their shadows. Which tournament are you most looking forward to and have you developed new passions for other team sports since your involvement with Teamsport Germany?
The tournament that I am most looking forward to is of course the Ice Hockey World Cup 2027, which I have already mentioned. After we were able to organize the 2017 World Cup in collaboration with France, hosting it in Mannheim and Düsseldorf alone is certainly a crowning achievement. Of course, I hope that together with Teamsport Germany we will receive broad political and financial support for this major sporting event.
The second event I'm looking forward to is much closer - that Deutschland Cup in November of this year in Landshut. The Deutschland Cup will be a novelty in that we will play a tournament for our men's and women's teams in parallel. The men's and women's teams will take turns playing in the same hall. The nice thing is that we can offer both our men and women the same stage - in front of a hopefully sold-out crowd in Landshut. Both teams, our vice world champions in the men's category and our World Cup quarter-finalists in the women's category, really deserve it. I think it is important to bring the professionals together and I also hope that this will lead to one or two learning effects and perhaps one or two initiatives about what we can do together. That the chemistry between the DEB The women's and men's teams fit together perfectly, as we were able to do together recently DEB Watch Media Day.
Regarding the second aspect: I have to say clearly that Teamsport Germany has rekindled my interest in other team sports. The Basketball World Cup last year was exciting and so was the opportunity to see the U21 Handball World Cup final this year Berlin Seeing our team become truly sensational world champions was a great sporting experience. That's why, whenever I can, I try to attend games or tournaments from other associations and take a look behind the scenes. It's always easy to put yourself in the other person's shoes when I see them tense on the sidelines. And you can learn from each other there too. In this respect, team sport is Germany for both me and him DEB an immense enrichment that is also great fun.
Source: Teamsport Germany