1. Status quo - Safeguarding youth in German sport.
- Author
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Körner, S., Steinmann, A., and Symanzik, T.
- Abstract
The paper describes the status quo of safeguarding youth in German sport, especially in elite sport. The first section shows the structure of elite sport in Germany. When speaking about sport in Germany today, we speak about one single organisation: the German Olympic Sport Confederation (DOSB) as head of organised sport in Germany. With few exceptions the DOSB is responsible for all sport federations, associations and clubs. Even though the Federal Government funds the DOSB, it remains independent concerning the appropriation of funds. It acts autonomously, has its own court of justice and enforces compliance with its respective code. The second section describes existing laws regulating child protection in general and in (elite) sport. The protection of children and young people is a top priority for the German Federal Government. The new federal child protection law came into effect only three years ago in 2012. It provides the basis for comprehensive improvements in child protection. The third section gives an overview on existing bodies, policies and regulations on safeguarding youth athletes in (elite) sport. In retrospective, several means have been taken over the last four years to improve the situation of major national sport organisations - a difficult task, considering the complex and decentralised structure of Germany's sport system. The main challenge is to carry the action through the member organisations down to the base of the sport system44. To get an idea about safeguarding youth in German sport, especially with regard to doping, two best-practice models are presented in chapter four. One of them is the Action Program Gene Technology in Competitive Sport (AGICS) which aims to inform young athletes and other related target groups in the field of gene doping. The set goal is to be achieved by a threefold approach, including ethical, juridical and scientific perspectives, which are to enable participants to form a carefully considered opinion and eventually take a stand on the topic. The second practice focuses on doping prevention among juveniles. An evaluated concept for primary prevention at secondary schools in Cologne (Germany) shows that doping is not only a phenomenon found in adult competitive athletes, but can also be found outside of competitive sports. In this context, evidence was produced that young adults also use doping to support their athletic performance. They tend to use doping to increase their muscle mass. The aim of both best practice models is to strengthen their decisionmaking. Altogether the paper shows, that a lot of things are done, but there is still plenty to do - in politics, sport and science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
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