To take up its social responsibility in every area of sport – that goal has come increasingly into focus at Deutsche Telekom in recent times. This can also be seen is in the Group's commitment to disabled sports.
Deutsche Telekom has been involved in disabled sports since October 2006., when the Group entered into a partnership with Germany's National Paralympic Committee (DBS).
Telekom's commitment focuses on supporting Team Germany Paralympics. With its commitment, Telekom is helping to secure and develop disabled sports in Germany. Telekom's central concern is to continuously improve the framework conditions in Germany for the sport of people with disabilities and to anchor the sport of people with disabilities in society on an equal footing. Supporting top-level sport and its Paralympic athletes plays a key role in this. This support makes a lasting contribution to raising public awareness in dealing with people with disabilities and their daily challenges.
"We see the athletes as role models whom we are happy to support in the long term," says Stephan Althoff, Head of Corporate Sponsoring at Deutsche Telekom. "With the help of this support, disabled sports can continue to develop.
In the funded project "Neue Sporterfahrung" ("New Sports Experience"), young people find out what life is like for people with disabilities. A number of training units within the realm of disabled sports strengthen team spirit and creativity, as well as mutual respect and understanding for people with disabilities.
Blind soccer
Blind trust in your feel for the ball and following the team's commands precisely? That's the challenge of the "blind soccer" training unit for junior clubs. An exciting experience that puts all your senses to the test – a truly "new sports experience".
Deutsche Telekom supports the Blindenfußball Bundesliga, Germany’s national blind soccer
league, in cooperation with the Sepp Herberger Foundation. On the nationwide match days, this New Sports Experience module draws attention to the subject of inclusion.
Wheelchair basketball
Since 2018, the "New Sports Experience" funding project has offered the spectacular Wheelchair Basketball unit for sports clubs to make the fast and passionate hunt for baskets on wheels more accessible to children and young people. The attractive sport teaches the correct handling of handicaps and strengthens the team spirit of the team.
Wheelchair basketball is an impressive game on wheels in which the idea of inclusion also plays a role. In this fast sport, even non-handicapped players can sit in a wheelchair and try to throw baskets. The discipline of the Paralympics is similar to the classic basketball with its rules and is only extended by the requirements of the wheelchair. The groups learn the basic techniques of wheelchair driving and the holistic playing experience in a team.
Responsible Gaming
Gaming - intriguing to teenagers and incomprehensible to most parents. It is probably one of the biggest discussions between the two generations - the constant "gambling" on the smartphone or the console. How can the credible hobby be credibly conveyed by a responsible approach? Starting in 2019, the "New Sports Experience" will offer workshops on exactly this challenge for the first time and will show support for young people and adults.
The participants of the workshops learn about the diversity of digital sports through gaming experts and media educators. The "Responsible Gaming" experience is divided into two individually tailored training courses for teens and adults.
Telekom and the Sepp Herberger Foundation (officially known as the "DFB-Stiftung Sepp Herberger") renewed their cooperation agreement dating from 2017.
"We have been a committed sponsor of the Blind Football Bundesliga (DBFL) since early 2017, and we are proud to be able to continue our cooperation over the next two years," stated Stephan Althoff, Head of Corporate Sponsoring at Deutsche Telekom. "Our commitment contributes significantly to this fascinating sport's development by providing financial support, helping to honor the outstanding achievements of its athletes and promoting public awareness." In addition to providing funding for the league's operations, the company plans to integrate its "New Sports Experiences" ("Neue Sporterfahrung") event format within the context of blind football matches. "Deutsche Telekom's announcement of continued support for the Blind Football Bundesliga over the next two years sends an important signal. The company's commitment highlights the athletic excellence of the sport's players, and it helps us to acquaint the public with this fascinating brand of football," explained Tobias Wrzesinski, Managing Director of the Sepp Herberger Foundation.
The Blind Football Bundesliga founded the Sepp Herberger Foundation in 2008, in cooperation with Germany's National Paralympic Committee (Deutscher Behindertensportverband) and the German association for the blind and visually impaired (Deutscher Blinden- und Sehbehindertenverband). Since 2011, the DBFL has taken a portion of its matches on the road, in a city-tour format that allows especially large numbers of people to enjoy the amazing levels of playing skill that people with disabilities can achieve. In blind football, players use a special ball that contains rattles. Simply by hearing the rattles, players know exactly where the ball is located at any time during play.
