The crucial question: How can the situation of the sports clubs be judged? One participant in the survey made it very clear on his questionnaire: „People, city council… WAKE UP: The sports facilities are decaying.“ „Statements like this demonstrate, how emotional this subject is“, says expert Professor Robin Kähler, who analysed the survey. 97 clubs and approximately 1,200 citizens participated. Nearly every subject area was covered, „to get the most extensive and detailed picture“. The state of the sports facilities quickly transpired to be a core issue.

As the main problems of the sports facilities, the participants listed „state of restoration“ (51.5 per cent), „cleanliness“ (39.2 per cent), „storage of equipment" (33 per cent), „fixing of faults“ (30.9 per cent), „assignment schedule“ (14.4 per cent) and „user conflicts“ (13.4 per cent).

Bad condition and inefficient usage

City-wide the participants gave the rating of 3.4 - just about satisfying in school assessment terms. „Money needs to be invested, which the politicians have to decide on“, says Kähler. But not randomly, but thoughtfully. „There is no point to let volleyball players pratice in a one-field hall, where they can’t run up to make a pass properly, because there is no space.“ Which leads him straight to the second point: The coordination of sports. It became common practise that clubs reserved booking times even when they didn’t need them.

„The result: A high utilisation degree, unfortunately completely inefficient“, explains Kähler. The approximately 100 representatives of the sports clubs all nod - despite their being the subject of this criticism. Transparency and honest communication should be standard for the city council as well as for the clubs amongst each other. „That way sports clubs can combine their expertise and cooperate when difficulties occur.“

Knowing what athletes want

Despite presenting many points of urgency unveiled by the survey, it was „a good day for sports in Bonn“, according to city sports chairman Michael Scharf. He also addressed the organisational problems. „We need a home for all sports as a central place-to-go, a contact point, for all clubs, equipped with plenty city council staff“, he said. The sports development plan should not happen for but rather with the athletes. „Because we know what we really need.“

A great example is the friends of bocci club in the old town. „Many planners seem to think that they do us a favour if they even the field out and even fill it up with gravel“, says Werner Porten from this club. But for bocci an uneven natural meadow is best, like at the Alten Zoll. „You only know that if you are playing bocci yourself. Or if you talk to the players.“ The more than 1,200 participants who sent back the questionnaires, mentioned 135 different types of sports.

Ahead of all others swimming (28 per cent), cycling (25.7 per cent), fitness (24.7 per cent) and running (24.6 per cent). Soccer was mentioned with 9.3 per cent. Lord Mayor Ashok Sridharan wants to take the suggestions into the political committees. Another insight, which was underlined by Kähler: The percentage of adults in Bonn, who organise their sport themselves and practice in public spaces, is particularly large. Not only in parks but also in public pools. „We need to look at many different points, but for that we need the fundamental basics“, says Sridharan. The survey results delivered those basics. In 2019 regional governments, committees and the council shall decide on the necessary measures.

(Original text: Nicolas Ottersbach Translation: Mareike Graepel)