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The Politics of Physical Culture and German Nationalism:Turnen versus English Sports and French Olympism, 1871-1914

2003; Berghahn Books; Volume: 21; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3167/104503003782353501

1558-5441

Udo Merkel,

Sports, Gender, and Society

The 2002 Soccer World Cup in Japan took place during the final phase of the national election campaign for the German Bundestag and managed to temporarily unite Chancellor Gerhard Schröder (SPD) and his conservative challenger, Edmund Stoiber1. Both were keen to demonstrate repeatedly that they were so interested in the progress of the German team that they simultaneously interrupted or left meetings to follow televised matches. Domestically, they support very different soccer clubs. Stoiber is on the board of directors of the richest German club, Bayern Munich, whose past successes, wealth and arrogance, numerous scandals, and boardroom policies of hireand- fire have divided the German soccer nation: they either hate or adore the team. Schröder is a keen fan and honorary member of Borussia Dortmund, which is closely associated with the industrial working class in the Ruhr area. It is the only team on par with Munich; despite its wealth, the management policies of the club appear modest and considerate; the club continuously celebrates its proletarian traditions and emphasizes its obligations to the local community. Stoiber’s election manifesto did not even mention sport, whereas the SPD’s political agenda for sport focused upon a wide variety of issues ranging from welfare, leisure, physical education, and health to doping, television coverage, facilities, and hosting international events.