The postponement of the ball of sport does not come as a surprise given the current pandemic.
Deutsche Sporthilfe took longer than necessary to make the decision, because there were already big question marks behind such a large event in a congress center when the latest virus variant Omikron did not yet dominate the headlines.
After all: Wiesbaden could now say goodbye as the host city with a lavish summer party in July 2022.
A ball in summer will probably remain the exception.
So far, all signs indicate that it will be a farewell party for Sporthilfe from the state capital.
Even in the event that the mayor, thanks to good connections in the economy, should win other patrons who take a few hundred thousand euros into their hands to keep Wiesbaden a social event with nationwide charisma.
It's not the money
It is simply hard to imagine that Sporthilfe will stay with its ball in a city where it is not politically wanted just because of the ideally suited congress center. Because nothing else says the agreement of the Greens, SPD, Volt and Left Party, with which the financial support of the ball is ended.
In Wiesbaden it is not the lack of money, but the lack of will of the new majority to continue playing the host role for the ball. That’s legitimate. Every political alliance sets its priorities. Politics is also about symbolic action. Whether this action is wise, however, is another matter, because the once glamorous Wiesbaden is not rich in social events today. It would have been possible to take a closer look at club sport without rudely turning off the money on the sport's ball.
The sports aid also has to ask why their ball apparently never arrived in the middle of Wiesbaden society.
Because otherwise it can hardly be explained that only a few voices of protest were loud.
However, no athlete has to worry about the continued existence of the ball.
Frankfurt has already sent clearly audible signals that the ball is welcome in the Main metropolis.