The world of sport does not rest solely on athletes and competitions. The ability of an organisation to grow, consolidate, and project its values into society depends largely on the relationship it maintains with the governments that host it, whether local or national. A visit such as that of Christiane Schenderlein, recently appointed Germany’s State Minister for Sport and Volunteering, to the new International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Campus in Bonn is much more than an institutional gesture: it is a declaration of priorities and a reminder of the strategic role politics plays in the development of sport.
When a government approaches the offices of a sporting body, it opens a direct channel that facilitates every process, from the simplest logistics to the resolution of complex crises. A close relationship ensures that initiatives are not blocked by bureaucratic hurdles, that projects receive political support —or guidance— and that any problem can be resolved swiftly. In the case of the IPC visit, this connection takes on even greater significance as sport, and Para sport in particular, is elevated to the highest level of German political representation following the recent structural change within the Federal Government.
The relevance of a political gesture
The meeting in Bonn was not limited to a tour of the modern IPC Campus, inaugurated in June. For Schenderlein, it was an opportunity to gain first-hand insight into the history of the Paralympic Movement and to reinforce the German Government’s commitment to inclusion and accessibility. For the IPC, it meant demonstrating to Germany’s top political authority in sport that the organisation’s mission transcends elite competition and becomes a catalyst for social change.
The Minister herself stressed that the Paralympic Games are a “driver of transformation, capable of inspiring society as a whole and delivering improvements in the daily lives of persons with disabilities.” That this reflection comes from the person leading Germany’s sport policy sends a clear message: inclusion is not an add-on, but a central pillar of the national agenda.
The value of institutional proximity
That the IPC has had its headquarters in Bonn since 1999 has been possible thanks to continuous collaboration with the German Government. Maintaining this closeness means that key decisions —from project funding to the country’s bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games— benefit from strong political backing. As Mike Peters, IPC Chief Executive Officer, pointed out, the fact that sport is now represented at the highest political level in Germany sends a powerful message to athletes, federations, and society as a whole: sport matters, not only as a spectacle but as a tool for inclusion and for building community.
