DESG Presidency: A large one got its majority

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Matthias Große is no longer just acting DESG boss

Photo: Matthias Koch / imago images / Matthias Koch

Matthias Große is the new President of the German Speed ​​Skating Association (DESG).

The partner of the five-time Olympic champion Claudia Pechstein was elected to the office at the general meeting of the DESG in Frankfurt am Main with 70 votes in favor, five against and twelve abstentions.

The real estate entrepreneur from Berlin was appointed provisional president of DESG on June 18 by board members Uwe Rietzke and Dieter Wallisch.

In the event of his election, Große promised a financial consolidation of the clammy association and has already presented a new main sponsor.

He had tied both measures in advance to the condition of his choice.

Große wants to lead the association to success again after years of sporting decline.

The office is also to move from Munich to Berlin.

"We need an office in the center of power. And that is Berlin," said Große.

Inzell in Upper Bavaria is to become the association's new sporting hotspot.

Sylvia Schenk, sports expert from Transparency Germany, recently criticized the fact that Grosse had promised a lot of money if he was chosen.

"Anyone who, like Matthias Große in the SPIEGEL interview, gives the impression that a German sports association can be bought and that you only have to give enough people to vote for them undermines the democratic structure in German sport," said Schenk.

Athlete representative Moritz Geisreiter had also expressed his skepticism towards Große the day before the election, but had also announced that he would now "look ahead".

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