Sport

The performance of Germany’s top athletes influences how Germany is viewed in the rest of the world. Athletes motivate people of all ages, with and without disabilities, to follow their example, helping sport have a positive impact on society and integration.
That is one reason the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community supports top-level sport in Germany. Funding for recreational sport mainly comes from state and local governments.
In Germany, sport participation is organised in about 86,000 clubs with about 28,8 million members. For them, sport contributes to a healthy lifestyle, fosters a sense of community and promotes values such as involvement, dependability, team spirit, fair play and tolerance.