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With the foreseeable extension of the lockdown, not only is the existential need in German sport growing, but also resentment, incomprehension and, in many clubs, existential fear.

The country's largest mass movement, with 27 million members, feels more and more left behind and thwarted by politics in the pandemic.

After a year of restricted activities, the German Olympic Sports Confederation wants things to start again and is no longer holding back with criticism of politics.

"Sport needs prospects"

"To do this, we need professional pandemic control, prompt vaccinations and, when making decisions about the end of the lockdown, the best possible consideration of the important elements of health and exercise," emphasized DOSB President Alfons Hörmann.

"In short: a higher priority for sport."

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If nationwide measures become possible in the fight against a third corona wave by changing the Infection Protection Act, this is likely to restrict sport even further.

After initial considerations, sport could only be done alone, in pairs or with one's own household if the seven-day incidence in rural districts rises to more than 100 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants.

If curfews were imposed from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., jogging alone would also be prohibited during this time.

Competitions and training of competitive athletes were excluded.

"I'm a bit disappointed that sport plays no role or only a subordinate role in the consultations," criticized Ingo Weiss, spokesman for the leading associations.

It is time that sport was finally given the perspective it deserves.

"Sport has so far been the most reliable partner in politics because it does not do what others do: demand, demand, demand."

“The sport will support the lockdown, but you have to give it prospects.

If not, we'll have a problem, ”said Weiss.

The ball rests: Upturned football goals stand on a hazy evening on a sports field in Berlin during the corona pandemic

Source: pa / Wolfram Stein / Wolfram Steinberg

Up until now, Easter was considered the sound barrier of the bearable.

Now the end shouldn't even be in sight at Pentecost.

"I believe that this limit has been reached or exceeded in many areas of society and is therefore not a phenomenon that affects sport alone," said Jürgen Kessing, President of the German Athletics Association.

But the “wash my fur, but don't get me wet” must finally come to an end.

The prospect of “clearly scheduled, reliable steps and measures” for a return to a new normal in popular and competitive sport is important.

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According to Turner President Alfons Hölzl, the lockdown extension will have "even more negative effects" than it already has.

"An extended lockdown in sport will exacerbate this situation," he said.

Current figures from the regional gymnastics associations would indicate a decrease in membership of between seven and twelve percent in the clubs.

Particularly in the younger age groups, strong declines can be observed: "The children lose touch with sport and exercise as well as with the club."

Membership decline - up to a million

According to a survey by the DOSB for all of its 90,000 clubs, the decline in membership is already eroding.

"According to the current status, we will have lost around one million members by the end of 2020 and a similar decline could have occurred in the first few months of the year," reported Hörmann.

In view of the extension of strict contact restrictions, the DOSB fears unforeseeable damage.

"Who would have thought that weeks or months ago and who can now reliably predict what consequential damage this will bring about for sport and society as a whole", asked Hörmann.

Andreas Michelmann, head of the German Handball Federation, is particularly concerned about the children and young people who need exercise and social contact during this time.

“In this respect, the lockdown harms our children.

Because I fear that the lack of exercise and the loss of social structures will have severe physical and psychological consequences in the long term, ”he predicted.

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The continued measures against the corona pandemic also endangered the economic survival of the Bundesliga clubs despite all state aid.

"In short: without an audience in the arenas, there is no future for professional sport," said Michelmann.

In view of the security fears of the fans and the only gradual opening, Weiss doubts whether they will pour into the arenas again after the end of the Corona crisis: "It will take a year or two."

DOSB boss Hörmann does not want to let the mood of doom arise with all the gloomy prospects.

"German sport is an extremely resilient and constantly developing structure," said Hörmann.

At the moment there was a risk of domino effects that would hurt: “A lack of movement becomes a lack of motivation, and that leads to a lack of activity.” Fortunately, however, countless committed sports colleagues “with maximum creativity” are committed to diversity in German sport.