BMI – Press – Exercise Summit: Together for more exercise and sport

Nine federal departments, states, municipalities and associations such as the German Confederation of Olympic Sports are meeting today in Berlin’s Max-Schmeling-Halle with the aim of improving the general conditions for exercise and sport in Germany. In a joint summit statement, all parties involved pledged to take specific measures to make exercise and sport more accessible to citizens, irrespective of their place of residence, origin, gender, age, financial means and physical abilities and individual minds.

In addition to Sports Minister Nancy Faeser and Health Minister Karl Lauterbach, representatives of seven other federal departments, eleven representatives of the Conference of Sports Ministers, the president of the German Association of Towns and Municipalities and Organized Sports (represented by the Vice-President of the German Confederation of Olympic Sports, DOSB Kerstin Holze and the 1st President of the German Sports Youth, dsj Stefan Raid). The process is accompanied and supported by six top athletes, such as Kim Biu, Elisabeth Seitz and Philipp Lahm.

Federal Interior Minister and Sports Minister Nancy Faeser: “With today’s summit we are giving sport and exercise the political and social attention that we urgently need after the pandemic years. Sport is much more than just a leisure activity. Sport is essential for physical health and mental health of every individual.And sport is a very useful contribution to the integration and cohesion of our society – for all people, from an early age, regardless of where they grow up and where their roots are.The pandemic years were a profound turning point for sports. Now is the time to move forward again. We must all bring the actors together: organized sports, federal, state and local governments. We must act together, in all sectors: from sports, to health, to education and youth policies, urban planning and integration policies.This is what today’s summit exercise is for a strong stimulus and an important start, which we look forward to with the development part of our “Sport Development Plan” will continue in the next year.”

Federal Minister of Health Karl Lauterbach: “Regular physical activity promotes health at any age. German citizens should know this. And all children, young people and adults should also benefit from it. That is why it is good that physical activity receives the attention it deserves today. Due to during the pandemic, much has been overlooked. Exercise is the best way to cushion the various consequences of crisis situations. As Minister of Health, my goal is for everyone to get enough exercise every day. Our daily lives offer countless opportunities to do this: in daycare, schools or the At work, at home or in a retirement home, or on the go on sidewalks and green spaces. These living environments should be strengthened and revitalized Together with my colleague Nancy Faser, we have managed to gain broad support for this task I welcome the commitment of all involved and thank all those responsible for the movement and sports promotion”.

After the exercise summit as a prelude, a sports development plan will be drawn up next year, which sees sports as a common task for everyone. The central fields of action will be the redevelopment of sports facilities, sustainability, integration, inclusion, school sport and childcare as well as the strengthening of volunteering.

The ReStart program of the DOB, which is financed by the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland to strengthen club sport after the corona pandemic, is also an important impetus in this direction.

The health aspects of physical activity are discussed at the Roundtable on Physical Activity and Health of the Federal Ministry of Health. Central actors at the federal, state and local levels will work together to devise the measures needed to get adults and children moving. The aim is to reach concrete agreements by the end of 2023 on who can contribute to the promotion of physical activity.