GERMAN SPORTS EXPERTS AROUND THE WORLD

Through the DOSB´s international sports promotion programme, German sports organisations support the development of sport in various countries of the Global South. Since the early 1960s, more than 1,500 long-term and short-term projects have been implemented in over 130 countries worldwide. The projects focus on the sustainable development of sport structures in the partner countries.

Every year, the DOSB carries out various of such short-term and long-term projects in countries of the Global South. German sports experts pass on their knowledge and experience to the respective partners and thus contribute to the sustainable development and expansion of sports structures at national and regional level. The experts train multiplicators, advise sport associations and ministries and conduct further training courses. The projects are always geared to local needs and are planned and implemented in close cooperation with local partners. While short-term projects cover a period of a few weeks to several months, long-term projects are planned for several years. 

Those projects are made possible by the extensive support of the Federal Government, in particular the Federal Foreign Office, as well as by the professional assistance of the member associations of the German Olympic Sports Confederation.

Projects

In 2020, the long-term projects in Kosovo (football), Gambia (football for girls and women) and Botswana (football) will continue. The project in Bolivia (athletics) came to a successful conclusion after two years. In parallel, 14 short-term projects were carried out in 12 countries worldwide.

PROMOTION OF FOOTBALL FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN IN GAMBIA

PROMOTION OF FOOTBALL FOR GIRLS AND WOMEN IN GAMBIA

Monika Staab, one of Germany’s most successful football coaches and pioneer of women's football worldwide, has been working in Gambia since October 2018 to promote women's football. Her aim is to encourage girls and women to get out and engage in this sport. Football has a very high status in Gambia, both for men and women. Women's football has made good progress in the last two years and enjoys increasing recognition in society. However, and especially for girls and women, concepts for youth development or talent scouting are still not in place, nor are there enough training centres for coaches. The project therefore aims to improve football at regional and national level, with special emphasis on football for girls and women, and school football. To this end, multiplicators are trained through workshops targeting trainers and referees. Furthermore, the range of training offers will be expanded, and talent promotion strengthened. Throughout the whole project, Monika Staab works closely with the local partner association, the Gambia Football Federation. The football project in Gambia is under the patronage of Minister of State Michelle Müntefering.

PROMOTION OF FOOTBALL IN BOTSWANA

PROMOTION OF FOOTBALL IN BOTSWANA

In February 2019, the long-term football promotion project in Botswana started under the lead of Dr Carolin Braun. Although football is a popular sport in Botswana, there is still a lack of licensed coaches and sports teachers, as well as structural and financial resources.

The football expert's task is to promote football – both men's and women's football – at all levels of the association. The project’s focus is therefore on the training of coaches/sport teachers, talent screening and promotion and mentoring of the coaches of representative teams. On a structural level, this implies a concept for youth development and talent screening, the implementation of a structured train-the-trainer system and nationwide training centres.

Through decentralisation and the concomitant cooperation with the regional football associations, the project aims to strengthen the structures of the BFA (Botswana Football Association) nationwide. 

STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENT OF FOOTBALL IN KOSOVO

STRUCTURAL IMPROVEMENT OF FOOTBALL IN KOSOVO

In February 2017, the long-term project in Kosovo was launched under the lead of the German expert Michael Nees. Although football is a popular sport in Kosovo, there is still a lack of experience, know-how as well as human and financial resources. The task of the expert is to promote football at all levels. In addition to active young people and adults, coaches, referees and association staff, especially sports teachers are addressed by project activities. The focus is also on the long-term improvement of the association structures in all relevant areas of management. This includes above all the expansion of the existing senior and youth league system, as well as the structuring of a training system for trainers, referees and association staff. In particular, the development of women's football is to be promoted by training female coaches and referees. By involving the regional football associations, the project aims to strengthen the structures of the FFK (Football Federation of Kosovo) throughout the country.

ATHLETICS PROMOTION IN BOLIVIA

ATHLETICS PROMOTION IN BOLIVIA

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From December 2017 till December 2019, the DOSB had facilitated a long-term project in Bolivia under the lead of athletics expert Oliver Scheer. In cooperation with the Federación Atlética de Bolivia (FAB) and the Ministry of Sport, the German sports expert was involved in an advisory capacity in the preparation, organisation and implementation of the South American Games 2018 in Cochabamba, Bolivia. Further focal points were the improvement of the internal association structures as well as strategic optimisation (competition schedule, administration, marketing/sponsoring, etc.). Oliver Scheer has implemented these tasks together with the FAB and the nine national associations, which were flanked by further training for trainers and referees as well as the training of multipliers in the areas of coaching, competition, refereeing and administration. Both children's and youth’s athletics as well as Bolivian elite level athletics benefited from this. Yet another aim of the project was to promote dual careers (training and sport) in order to reduce the "drop-out" of many talented athletes.