First decline in 13 years. Biggest losses in gymnastics and recreational sports, disabled sports and swimming.
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Organized sport in Berlin lost 33,117 members in the first year of the corona pandemic. According to the statistics of the Landessportbund Berlin (LSB), 662,076 people are organized in Berlin’s sports clubs on January 1, 2021. That means a decrease of 4.76% compared to the previous year. As of January 1, 2020, 695,193 people were still organized in Berlin sports clubs. LSB President Thomas Härtel says: “On the one hand, we are very grateful that the overwhelming number of members have remained loyal to their clubs despite the unusual offers. This is a great sign of solidarity in sport and the best proof that sports clubs are not just service providers, but very special communities. On the other hand, we regret every single exit. We urgently need openings for more sport, not only for our members in the clubs, but also as an indispensable offer for health promotion and social cohesion in our city. ”
The Berlin sports clubs have lost 14,894 male and 18,223 female athletes as members. With the decrease to 662,076 memberships, organized sport has fallen back to the level of 2018. At the same time, the numbers represent the first decline in membership in 13 years. Sport recorded the greatest declines in associations with sports that take place indoors and in contact sports.
With a decrease of 12,087 memberships (-28.95%), most of the resignations are recorded in the age group of 0-6 year olds in particular. This is where the negative effects of the pandemic are particularly evident. The successful cooperation between the associations and the daycare centers could not be continued for almost a year. The decline is also above average in the age group between 7 and 14 years. “The pandemic also disrupted the natural fluctuation between departures and new entrants. The decline in membership, especially among children and young people, must give particular food for thought. This group in particular needs exercise now. It is therefore all the more incomprehensible to us that the Senate did not implement the resolution of the Prime Minister’s Conference and is the only federal state to deny sports opportunities to 13 and 14 year olds, ”says LSB President Härtel.
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