Germany Establishes Safe Sport Center to Combat Violence and Abuse
Berlin, July 9 – Germany has taken a significant step in safeguarding athletes by establishing a dedicated Safe Sport Center. This independent institution aims to combat violence and abuse within German sports, ensuring comprehensive investigation, sanctioning, and processing of cases based on standardized procedures, as announced by the Federal Chancellery.
The center, which will be located in Kassel, is slated to commence its operations in the spring of 2027.
A Commitment to Athlete Protection
Christiane Schenderlein (CDU), State Minister for Sport, emphasized the importance of this initiative during the founding event at the Federal Chancellery in Berlin. “Anyone who experiences violence must be able to trust that allegations will be independently investigated and consistently processed,” she stated. The center is supported by a joint association of federal and state governments.
Positive Reception from Athlete Associations
The Athletes Germany association has warmly welcomed the establishment of the center. “In addition to its function as an investigation and disciplinary body, the center is intended to set standards for prevention, intervention, and processing, and to support sports organizations in their implementation,” the association announced. They believe this institution lays the groundwork for an effective protection system.
Johannes Herber, Managing Director of Athletes Germany, further commented, “This brings us a significant step closer to the goal of providing those affected with access to independent investigation and disciplinary procedures.”
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) also expressed its positive view. Michaela Röhrbein, a member of the DOSB board, described the center’s founding as “a strong and important signal for German sport.” She added, “It shows that the protection against violence is not a marginal issue, but a central prerequisite for all people to experience sport with trust, joy, and safety.”
Transparency and Continued Effort Essential
The creation of a Safe Sport Center in Germany has been a collaborative effort for years, involving sports organizations, political bodies, athlete representatives, victim advocates, and academics.
However, Herber stressed that the establishment of the center should not be seen as the conclusion of this process. “The development of the center remains a complex task that leaves little room for error. Every step must be carefully planned, and every decision examined for its possible consequences. Only with high transparency and the trusting involvement of the most important stakeholders, especially those affected, can the necessary trust in the center be created.”
The new Safe Sport Center is expected to play a crucial role in fostering a safer environment for athletes across Germany, ensuring that incidents of violence and abuse are addressed with the seriousness and independence they require.
