SOCIETY.

“Sport and human rights” are increasingly coming into focus at major sporting events and beyond. The Olympic and Paralympic Games in Germany must therefore be measured against international standards and demonstrate that respect for human and children’s rights is a matter of course in this context. In order to minimize the risks of human rights violations in Germany, but also in global cooperation, for example in supply chains, the internationally applicable human and children’s rights conventions are observed and included in a bid. Information on the DOSB’s current activities in the area of “Sport and Human Rights” can be found here:

DOSB Human Rights Advisory Board

DOSB Human Rights Policy

The Olympic and Paralympic Games are the biggest multi-sport event in the world. Tickets are correspondingly expensive, especially for popular sports. However, as the future will show, it will also be possible to buy less expensive tickets or even access events without paying an admission fee at all. According to the current plans, up to 400,000 people will be able to watch the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games in the heart of Paris, with around three quarters of them being admitted free of charge.

In fact: The “new” Olympic Games, which will be experienced and tangible for the first time in Paris, will be more modern, more urban, and more accessible. That is an important factor in the current discussions about ticketing prices in Paris, as well as the fact that the cheaper tickets are not on sale yet. Paris 2024 intends to offer around one million tickets at a price of €24. Ticket pricing is in the hands of the Organising Committee and is not subject to any stipulation imposed by the IOC. Tickets, therefore, make a significant contribution to the reimbursement of the costs associated with the staging of the Games.

If Olympic and Paralympic Games are to be held in Germany, we want to make them accessible to everyone. Therefore, the price structure for tickets must and will be developed accordingly.

The field of sports is by no means the only one to benefit from the Games. The event also provides an economic boost. Read more here.

More importantly: Germany will be the focus of international attention and media presence for more than six weeks. That could make Germany an attractive travel destination in the long term. The event attracts a large number of visitors who not only watch the Games but also explore the local culture, sights, and other attractions.

Through cultural and social programmes, e.g., during the Opening and Closing Ceremonies as well as during the Games, the Olympic and Paralympic Games provide a unique opportunity for a nation to present their art and culture to a broader public. It can also be assumed that hosting the Games in one’s own country, as was the case with the 2006 World Cup, helps to promote a nation’s image to the outside world and foster identification among its people.

It can also be assumed that hosting the Games in one’s own country, as was the case with the 2006 World Cup, helps to promote a nation’s image to the outside world and foster identification among its people.

Sports have a unifying power, which primarily lies in the fact that all those who participate speak a common language and follow the same set of rules – across regional and national borders. Der Sport ist dank dieser verbindenden Kraft weitaus inklusiver als andere Gesellschaftsbereiche es sind. The unifying power of sports should be felt and experienced at the Games in Germany.

The Games are intended to bring people from different countries and cultures together. Athletes, support staff, and fans alike will have the opportunity to interact with each other, share their experiences, and develop an understanding of different cultural perspectives. The Games will also enable people to experience the fundamental values of sports, such as diversity and inclusion, and to participate in them. That is how we intend to make Germany more accessible and sports more inclusive.

Major sporting events – especially those in one’s own country – are incredibly powerful and regularly demonstrate the positive impact that sports have on society. Enthusiasm for sports has increased as a result of major sporting events, as many examples have shown: from the “Trimm dich” movement, which started around the 1972 Olympics, to the 2006 World Cup, which triggered a boom in girls’ and women’s soccer, to the 2022 European Championships, which offered many grassroots sports events to a wide range of target groups.

However, the mere presence of elite sports does not necessarily a nation’s sports behaviour. What it does, is providing a huge opportunity to root sports more firmly within the population: through play-along offers and opportunities for the general public, through the refurbishment and upgrading of sports facilities, and through the strengthening of volunteer work, club campaigns, and much more. Please share any ideas, comments, or requests that you may have with us.

Health is the prerequisite for sporting (peak) performance. Because sport can have a positive effect on various areas of health. For example, sport counteracts the development of certain diseases such as heart and circulatory diseases. In addition, regular exercise minimises the risk of injury in everyday life. Those who exercise regularly can also improve the quality of their sleep, because regular exercise promotes healthy sleep. Sporting activities also have a positive effect on mental health, as sport can reduce stress, contribute to a more positive mood and improve the ability to concentrate. 

Our everyday lives require less and less physical activity, so it is important to establish targeted measures to promote physical activity. The Olympic and Paralympic Games can also be a driving force here to get people in Germany excited about more physical activity. The Olympic and Paralympic Games and sport in general set a positive example for physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. The athletes are role models for millions of people around the world who feel inspired by their success and discipline to be more active themselves and to take care of their health.