Energy costs are also increasingly affecting sport and culture

Since the beginning of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, for which Vladimir Putin is responsible, Russia has been using its gas supplies to put pressure on democracies, including Germany. As a result, energy prices have exploded and there is a nationwide debate on how they can be brought under control. "The previously unchecked explosion in energy prices first affects those people who work hard and have to pay the energy costs themselves. Of course, it also directly affects the companies that provide jobs," says Lord Mayor Dr. Felix Schwenke. "It is therefore right that the federal government has already decided on initial measures. It is also right that the federal government, like the state government, is currently considering further ways to help people."

The impact is increasingly affecting all areas of life. "In my view, the debates at federal and state level have so far not paid enough attention to sports and cultural associations and small cultural operators," says Mayor Schwenke. Schwenke expressly welcomes the fact that the state government has now announced a social summit for this week Friday. "At this meeting, all topics really need to be on the table. In addition to the question of how people and companies who have to pay their own energy costs can be relieved, in my view this also includes the question of how culture and sport can get through this winter. Clubs have an extraordinarily high social and societal significance. Sports clubs in particular make an absolutely indispensable contribution to integration and social cohesion. And culture, especially that which is provided by volunteers and smaller institutions, is an indispensable element of freedom in a democracy. That's why, in my view, we need to proceed as we did during the coronavirus pandemic: First of all, the big problems and the large sums of money in the form of aid packages for sport and culture must come from the federal and state governments," said Schwenke, calling on the federal and state governments to tackle these issues now.

For Schwenke, the fact that the federal and state governments are called upon to do this first is not part of a political game in which one refers to the other: "It's more about justice and responsibility in our country. In the end, it can't be the case that sport and culture still work in richer cities because they can receive a lot of help, while poorer cities don't have the money to provide enough aid. During the coronavirus pandemic, it must be emphasized very positively, this was clear to everyone involved. It actually worked to absorb the burdens and effects nationwide. I am therefore hopeful that this will also work in this crisis."

The protective shield proposed by the State Sports Association of Hesse to provide financial support for clubs during the energy crisis would be a possible instrument for Mayor Schwenke: "The federal and state governments are saying: the gas may not be enough, so the shower will stay cold. Sport is being hit by cold showers and inflation in equal measure: People no longer go to the clubhouse. If the clubhouse doesn't run, the lease is lost and with it one of the clubs' most important sources of income," says Mayor Schwenke. "Clubs with their own facilities are hit twice as hard. These clubs are often more than a hundred years old. But now they are faced with bills that may no longer be affordable." According to Mayor Schwenke, under no circumstances should sports facilities be forced to close in the coming months due to unaffordable energy costs: "We must not fall back into a time of the pandemic when many important services were no longer available," emphasized Schwenke. "Sport - with the exception of the coronavirus winner tennis - is still suffering from these consequences, in particular the massive loss of members in some cases." In addition, immediately after the tough pandemic, inflation in both sport and culture is once again leading to memberships and membership fees being called into question.

Culture also urgently needs support. "Small venues, for example, are hardly in a financial position to survive this energy crisis without help. I have recently been receiving more and more reports from the cultural scene that events have had to be canceled. This doesn't apply to the big parties with Ed Sheeran. But it does apply to many medium-sized and smaller events that make up the cultural offerings in cities." The problem doesn't just affect event venues, says Mayor Schwenke. "If an event does take place, clubs and cultural operators have to fear going broke afterwards because far too few tickets were sold to cover the costs." This development, which began with coronavirus and is now being accelerated by high inflation and the extreme energy costs for private households, is of great concern to the mayor: "As a society, we are facing cultural impoverishment. But this is even worse for the individual people who earn their living through culture: They are facing an existential end."

From Mayor Schwenke's point of view, there is only one conclusion to be drawn from all these developments: "The federal and state governments must now come forward with aid for sport and culture too. As with Corona, the big money has to come from above, which Offenbach simply doesn't have. However, it is clear that we in Offenbach's town hall are already listening closely to where the problems in sport and culture are greatest. Once it is clear what is coming from the top, we will also take a closer look at whether and where we can at least help with smaller problems with the small and modest funds Offenbach is known for."