The German government's Physical Activity Summit marks a historic event. For the first time, on Tuesday, December 13, 2022, the federal government, states, municipalities and organized sports came together to reduce and jointly address the deficits of sports, exercise and health in society. It is not only since the Corona pandemic that children and older people in particular have been affected by immobility. Initiated by Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser and Federal Minister of Health Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach, the shortcomings are to be tackled and remedied by means of a "Sports Development Plan". This is being done in close cooperation with the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).
The importance of sport and the promotion of physical activity to the two politicians is shown by a statement from the Federal Minister of Health Lauterbach: "Sport achieves more than any single drug we have ever invented and which we can probably invent. Thus, from a medical point of view, sport cannot be replaced by anything, it is simply the best medicine we have ever invented." With the help of concrete measures and projects, sport is to be brought back to the people - regardless of age, gender, financial possibilities or physical and mental abilities.
Prof. Dr. Ansgar Schwirtz, Head of the Associate Professorship of Biomechanics in Sports, was invited to the Physical Activity Summit as President of the German Society of Sports Science and represented the scientific institutions. He classifies the summit declaration of the federation.
Prof. Schwirtz about...
...the German government's Physical Activity Summit for sports:
"As president of the German Society of Sports Science, I represented the scientific institutions.The unique thing about the Summit was that all ministries agreed on a joint summit declaration and also signed it. The declaration is a strong political statement and an important marker for the future of sport in our country. That is why a sports development plan is to be drawn up next year, for which all ministries are responsible. Until now, there has been the classic division; competitive sports are the responsibility of the federal government, while health and popular sports are the responsibility of the states. Now there will be concentrated action by the federal and state governments."
...infrastructural measures:
"The Summit and the people acting have exuded a lot of confidence. That's a positive signal we can take away for sports science. In terms of infrastructural measures, the development plan envisages a budget of two billion euros a year just to be able to maintain sports facilities. In the future, however, not only sports halls or sports fields should be built, but attractive facilities should be created where diverse sports and diverse movement patterns can take place. These could be, for example, parks for jogging and skating or swimming pools with lake character, correspondingly livable and lovable facilities. This should be taken into account in future urban planning. My optimism lies in the fact that politicians have finally understood the complexity of the issue and are actively discussing how to bring sports to the people. It is important that funds from the federal and state governments are made available for this purpose. Words must be followed by action and funding. But the tenor was unanimous: everyone wants to get moving again, especially children and older people. After all, sport holds our society together."
...the role and strengthening of volunteerism for sports:
"The clear message is: we can't do it without volunteers! We are proud of all volunteers. Over the last few years, unfortunately, the number has decreased. This is not only due to the Corona pandemic, but also to developments in society as a whole. There must be an impetus to strengthen volunteerism, to give people security and to arouse interest in volunteerism in the long term. For example, top athletes can also do voluntary work. But I would like to emphasize one thing in particular: the full-time job pulls the volunteering. We urgently need a discussion group to discuss how we can find professionals for sports and how we can train them adequately. We need very well-trained and dedicated sports scientists and sports teachers to maintain this landscape."
...the statement by German Health Minister Prof. Karl Lauterbach that sport is the best medicine:
"This was a powerful statement that targets the social, as well as health and economic, power of sport. We often say that sport serves as a medicine and that it should be prescribed as exercise. But if you take it a bit further, sport should be prescribed as a preventive measure, not as a drug. People should take the drug 'sport' before they get sick - and get moving accordingly as a preventative measure. I felt the Federal Minister of Health's comment was very purposeful, so that you also take away that you don't just have the most beautiful hobby in the world and support it, but are pursuing social and political goals when you strengthen sport."
...the criticism that the measures serve as a failure of the past and whether the announcements will be implemented at all:
"I consider the federal government's statement extremely positive that a comprehensive approach has been taken. However, I also believe that mistakes were made in the pandemic period by initially closing sports halls and banning physical education as the first subject in many cases. From today's perspective, that was clearly the wrong decision. Therefore, my appeal would have been that the specialists such as the sports teachers would certainly have come up with solutions to carry out the sports lessons in accordance with the pandemic. Sport could have solved the big problem, the motto should have been: Exercise despite Corona! I also believe that a correction of the situation is taking place. Closing sports halls, as is currently also the case in the climate crisis, can certainly not be a long-term solution. We need the sports halls and swimming pools to offer exercise and balance to society. We have to tackle that. That's why I see the summit declaration as a positive signal."
...the importance of sports and physical education:
"The pandemic has shown it again: Not only the so-called MINT subjects (mathematics, informatics, natural sciences and technology) are significant, but also sports and health in particular. Both have been given a clear mandate by the summit declaration. Namely, that they are important core subjects in school and that sport must not be the third wheel on the wagon. The significance of sport is to be brought back into focus in the future."
To the press release of the Federal Government
To the homepage of the Associate Professorship of Biomechanics in Sports
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Ansgar Schwirtz
Associate Professorship of Biomechanics in Sports
Georg-Brauchle-Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone.: 089 289 24580
e-mail: ansgar.schwirtz(at)tum.de
Text: Bastian Daneyko
Photo: Private