I don't know where to post this. Feel free to move it. It's about the sad state of finances in German figure skating which is at an all-time low. There are comparisons to former Soviet Republics, Spain, and the USA. Plus it includes a detailed calculation of their expenses. Hence, this might be interesting for a wider audience.
Excerpts from paywalled newspaper article, translated through deepl:
Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel are third in the European Figure Skating Championships. The professional athletes represent their country worldwide. But the support in Germany is so poor that they are losing interest. Here they reveal their income and expenditure.
The money for the pair only lasts until October - the season runs until March. "We thought that after our most successful season, the support should also be up and running," says Kunkel. "But things turned out differently."
A winter costs around 74,000 to 86,000 euros for the Berliners, who have been training in Bergamo, Italy, since 2022: Coach fees, choreography, ice time, travel and costumes (see cost calculation at the end of the text). While in other countries the federation takes over a large part of the financing, the two cannot hope for much from the German Skating Union (DEU). "The DEU provides around 6,000 to 7,500 euros per year," says Kunkel. "That always fluctuates, depending on how many travel expenses we are granted."
Even the costs associated with DEU compulsory measures had to be financed by the athletes. "For example, there was a compulsory course in Oberstdorf that had to be completely self-financed, but for which there was no contribution from the DEU," says Kunkel.
"Funding has deteriorated drastically once again"
If they want to take their coach to competitions, they usually have to pay for it themselves. "Funding has deteriorated drastically once again," says Kunkel. "It's really never been as low as this year.
Another problem: the DEU keeps 10% of the prize money that the pair earns. For example, there was around 11,000 euros for European Championship bronze, of which only two thirds remained after deductions by the association and organizers. "In return, the federation finances less than 10% of our expenses," says Kunkel.
"The DEU model doesn't exist like this in any other country," says Kunkel. "The association pays almost no funding and still takes its share. Other countries, for example in Eastern Europe with Georgia, keep 100% of the prize money, but there all costs are covered and the athletes receive a monthly salary from the association as well as corresponding bonuses. Then there are federations that even double the prize money if you win it. The US federation was an example, which also covers all costs. The Spanish federation pays bonuses even if the athletes don't make it into the prize money places because they want to promote the athletes."
Cost calculation by Robert Kunkel and Annika Hocke
• Training costs in Bergamo 21,500 euros
• Physiotherapy (currently suspended) 11,520 euros
• Injury prevention (currently suspended) 6400 euros
• Travel costs 3600 Euro
• Visa costs 750 Euro
• Self-funded costs for association measures (e.g. performance diagnostics) 2260 euros
• Special training camps 7370 euros
• Material costs (e.g. shoes) 1500 euros
• Costume costs 5900 Euro
• Program costs/choreography 5200 Euro
• Music editing 400 Euro
• Competition costs (e.g. for travel & trainer costs) 7600 to 19,600 euros
• Total 74,000 to 86,000 euros
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Source: Welt Online (paywalled)
"Deutsche Meister, aber nichts im Portemonnaie"
Excerpts from paywalled newspaper article, translated through deepl:
Annika Hocke and Robert Kunkel are third in the European Figure Skating Championships. The professional athletes represent their country worldwide. But the support in Germany is so poor that they are losing interest. Here they reveal their income and expenditure.
The money for the pair only lasts until October - the season runs until March. "We thought that after our most successful season, the support should also be up and running," says Kunkel. "But things turned out differently."
A winter costs around 74,000 to 86,000 euros for the Berliners, who have been training in Bergamo, Italy, since 2022: Coach fees, choreography, ice time, travel and costumes (see cost calculation at the end of the text). While in other countries the federation takes over a large part of the financing, the two cannot hope for much from the German Skating Union (DEU). "The DEU provides around 6,000 to 7,500 euros per year," says Kunkel. "That always fluctuates, depending on how many travel expenses we are granted."
Even the costs associated with DEU compulsory measures had to be financed by the athletes. "For example, there was a compulsory course in Oberstdorf that had to be completely self-financed, but for which there was no contribution from the DEU," says Kunkel.
"Funding has deteriorated drastically once again"
If they want to take their coach to competitions, they usually have to pay for it themselves. "Funding has deteriorated drastically once again," says Kunkel. "It's really never been as low as this year.
Another problem: the DEU keeps 10% of the prize money that the pair earns. For example, there was around 11,000 euros for European Championship bronze, of which only two thirds remained after deductions by the association and organizers. "In return, the federation finances less than 10% of our expenses," says Kunkel.
"The DEU model doesn't exist like this in any other country," says Kunkel. "The association pays almost no funding and still takes its share. Other countries, for example in Eastern Europe with Georgia, keep 100% of the prize money, but there all costs are covered and the athletes receive a monthly salary from the association as well as corresponding bonuses. Then there are federations that even double the prize money if you win it. The US federation was an example, which also covers all costs. The Spanish federation pays bonuses even if the athletes don't make it into the prize money places because they want to promote the athletes."
Cost calculation by Robert Kunkel and Annika Hocke
• Training costs in Bergamo 21,500 euros
• Physiotherapy (currently suspended) 11,520 euros
• Injury prevention (currently suspended) 6400 euros
• Travel costs 3600 Euro
• Visa costs 750 Euro
• Self-funded costs for association measures (e.g. performance diagnostics) 2260 euros
• Special training camps 7370 euros
• Material costs (e.g. shoes) 1500 euros
• Costume costs 5900 Euro
• Program costs/choreography 5200 Euro
• Music editing 400 Euro
• Competition costs (e.g. for travel & trainer costs) 7600 to 19,600 euros
• Total 74,000 to 86,000 euros
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)
Source: Welt Online (paywalled)
"Deutsche Meister, aber nichts im Portemonnaie"