The coalition deal between the major parties of Germany – the Social Democrats, Christian Democratic Union, and Christian Social Union – has finally come to an end after much debate. Though many compromises and changes came with the deal, one of the most notable parts of the deal will make esports in Germany an independent and officially recognized sport in the nation.
With this deal, esports in Germany will now have the ability to receive a lot of support from the federal states, and it could very well be the start of the groundwork for a broad amateur esports structure. In the coalition deal pertaining to esports, this is what was said:
We recognize the growing importance of the esport landscape in Germany, because esport trains important skills that are not only important in the digital world, but for training and sports structures. In the future, esport will fully recognize and endorse esports as a separate sport with association and association rights and support the creation of an Olympic perspective.
The Esports Bund Deutschland, a non-profit German-based organization that represents the interests of esports and esports athletes, were some of the first to rejoice over the news. Hans Jagnow, the organization’s president, states that this news is a “massive step forward for esports in Germany,” and that the “effects for the German esports scene will be profound.” These profound effects would help athletes and coaches of teams have an easier time traveling out of the country for competitions, would help the promotion of esports as a sport in general to other countries, and all of this would help eventually form a solid structure for lower-level competitors.
Although this is great news, the laws that would make esports a legitimate sport in the country will still need to go through the German government. Jagnow hopes that “this year we will experience what remained a dream for German esport athletes for over 20 years: the political, legal and social Recognition as a sport.” Though it would be amazing to see these laws be instated this year, it is unknown when these laws will go into effect.