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The umbrella organization of organized sports in Germany criticizes the award of the World Cup
Photo: Britta Pedersen / dpa
In a public statement, the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) criticized the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar.
Two days before the start of the World Cup, the umbrella organization for organized sport in Germany announced that this "questioned the integrity of world sport in an exemplary manner."
"A different decision should have been made simply for reasons of the lack of sustainability in the use of the venues and the climatic conditions in the summer in the northern hemisphere," the statement said.
In addition, »since the award, there has been massive criticism of the human rights situation on site and evidence of criminal activities such as bribing officials and spying on critics by the organizers«.
The DOSB therefore also thinks it is right that the German Football Association (DFB) and the national players "express their position on human rights issues within the scope of the possibilities".
It is also “to be respected if athletes do not want to comment publicly on this”.
The umbrella organization considers it "essential that the rethinking that has already taken place in world sport and the focus on topics such as sustainability and human rights is consistently continued".
With the reforms in the application and selection process in the International Olympic Committee (IOC), “important milestones have already been set to reverse the loss of trust in the integrity of sport”.
The World Cup in Qatar starts on Sunday with the hosts opening game against Ecuador.
The final will take place on December 18th.
mas/dpa