(ATR) It was a little palace revolution, but the incumbent did not fall.
Alfons Hörmann remains president of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) but had to face a last-minute challenger in his re-election bid. In the end, the 58-year-old's re-election was not in jeopardy despite his opponent Martin Engelhardt, President of the German Triathlon Union (DTU). Nevertheless, it was a first - never before has a DOSB president had to face a contested election.
"I would like to thank you for the great vote of confidence and will continue to work with a powerful team for Sportdeutschland," said Hörmann, who has headed the DOSB since 2013 and was re-elected for four years: "I will cultivate a style that is characterized by transparency and openness."
Hörmann received 383 of the 450 votes cast in the secret ballot, Engelhardt 61, and six were invalid. Hörmann had left it open in advance whether he would stand for re-election in the event of a competitor, but on Saturday he immediately declared that he would be available for another term in office.
Engelhardt has been one of Hörmann's strongest critics within the DOSB since an open confrontation during the parliamentary evening in Berlin in June at the latest. "I do not think Mr. Hörmann is a good president. The Olympic bids was unprofessional, one can argue about the reform of competitive sport, but the behaviour has not contributed to motivate more people to stand up for the cause," said Engelhardt.
Before the election, Engelhardt had stressed the symbolic value of his candidacy. "I know that this candidacy will not prevent the re-election of the president. The candidacy should help to ensure that several candidates should not be taken for granted in sport in a democracy," he said.
Horst Seehofer, the Federal Minister of the Interior responsible for sport, had shown in his greeting that he was open to a new Olympic bid - but only under certain conditions. "Germany would look good once again to host the Olympics. However, with a prudent, moderate concept", the CSU politician said in his speech.
Written by Heinz Peter Kreuzer
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