Olympia 2036 in Germany? Politicians rely on the sports boom!

Olympia 2036 in Germany? Politicians rely on the sports boom!

The idea of an Olympic acquisition for Germany is increasingly gaining driving. Political support for the project has been running for some time. Following this trend, the Federal Government expressed the official benevolence with regard to a German candidacy at the beginning of the Olympic Game in Paris. But what is really behind this interest?

The word "sport" has gained gain in meaning in the political landscape, explains media and communication scientist Jörg-Uwe Nieland from the University of Klagenfurt. He sees sport as a crucial "feel-good factor" that is of central importance not only for the public, but also for the image of political actors. "Sport is increasingly integrated into political speeches and programs, both locally and at federal level," says Nieland.

the political actors and their ambitions

Markus Söder, the Prime Minister of Bavaria, emphasized the optimism that sport brings. He recently explained: "In addition to migration, economy and education, we want to continue to promote optimism in the country, and sport is crucial for this." A concrete example is the announcement to double the medal premiums for Bavarian athletes at the Olympic Games in order to show the support of sports and athletes, as the Bavarian Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann Deutschlandfunk explained.

In other federal states, position is also eagerly related. North Rhine-Westphalia is planning a temporary Olympic Stadium, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for the sailing competitions in Rostock-Warnemünde, and Lower Saxony proposes various sports facilities such as the shooting sports facility in Garlstorf to demonstrate their host quality. The pictures of the games in Paris just taking place are apparently a great motivational factor for the politicians.

emotional aspects and public mood

The sport not only arouses enthusiasm, but also plays an important role in the perception of national identity and creating a positive self -image. The German Olympic Sports Association (DOSB) has started an image campaign that has presented memory moments and heroic deeds of athletes since 1972. According to the communication scientist Lutz Hagen from the TU Dresden, such representations are crucial to show that Germany is a strong sports nation.

Hagen has found that sporting successes, especially victories of the German national soccer team, can significantly raise the mood of the population. "There is a mechanism that we consider crucial: the public mood," he explains.

Although this positive mood often only occurs for a short time, it has an impact on the perception of all possible topics, including political. Studies show that the general mood in a country can influence the government's rating. In a study on the 2013 Bundestag election, it becomes clear that the success of the home association in concrete terms improves the opinion of the voters about the government. "The government evaluation is positively influenced when the local football club wins," says Hagen, describing the situation.

This indicates that the focus is not on the direct success and the responsibility of the politicians, but the emotional situation of the citizens is decisive. The influence of sport on the political climate should not be underestimated, even if it is only in the short term. "A fundamentally negative mood cannot cover sporting successes," warns Jörg-Uwe Nieland.

The interest of politicians in sport shows how closely both areas are interwoven. Sport proves to be a valuable instrument, especially in the current time when politics is dependent on positive signals. The question remains how sustainable this enthusiasm really is when it comes to concrete inquiries about financing and sustainability.