Page 72 - Olympism in Socialism

have geared all tasks and efforts to the well-being
of the masses. At every stage of its social
development, the SED has paid great attention to
the promotion of physical culture and sports. It
is,’ above all, the great variety and breadth of the
GDR’s sports movement which have brought
such laurels to it in international corn petitions.

REASONS FOR SUCCESS
Outstanding performances of sportsmen from
the GDR often hit the headlines in the world
press. Indeed, the phenomenal successes of GDR
sports have made many to raise the question: “Is
the GDR a sports miracle?” The answer in one
word is “No”. For, there are no miracles in this
world, and the sports in the German Democratic
Republic is no exception to that. If the legend of
the “GDR sports miracle” persists, it is because
many people ignore the social conditions. What
are the actual reasons for the successes? Some of
them need to be elaborated here in some detail.
After the smashing of all fascist sports
organizations in accordance with the provisions
of the Potsdam Agreement of August 1945, the
building of a new anti-fascist and democratic
sports movement was launched. The aims were to
evolve democratic organizational forms, to impart
anti-fascist education, and to remove the
consequences of the war. In Berlin alone, 301 out
of the 416 gymnasiums had been completely or
partly destroyed and only three out of 12 indoor
swimming halls were left. Hardly a sports ground
was in a fit condition for use.
During the process of social transformation
an integrated democratic sports movement was
launched from October 1, 1948. Later, a mass
organization of gymnasts and sportsmen of the
GDR — the German Sports and Gymnastics
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