German Olympic Federation Appoints New President, President Gauck Not Attending Sochi 2014

The German Olympic Sport’s Federation has appointed Alfons Hoermann as their new president following Thomas Bach leaving the role for the top job at the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The 53-year-old Hoermann, who has been head of the German skiing federation since 2005, received 434 votes from 459 delegates Saturday for a one-year term in charge of the German Olympic Sports Confederation. A vote for another four-year term will take place in December 2014.

Bach, who led the German body for seven years before leaving to take the IOC’s top job, was named honorary president.

Hans-Peter Kraemer served as interim president after Bach succeeded Jacques Rogge as IOC president in September.

President Gauck Decides Against Going to Sochi

Germany’s president Joachim Gauck revealed over the weekend he would not be attending the Sochi 2014 Olympics. 

Gauck’s decision, announced on Sunday, is widely seen as a response to the Russian government’s violation of human rights and persecution of opposition groups.

But a spokesperson for the president’s office also said there is no set protocol in place for a German head of state to attend a Winter Olympics.

Previous German president Horst Koehler also didn’t go to the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, Canada.

Gauck attended the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics, and also plans to welcome home Germany’s 2014 Olympic athletes on their return to Munich from Sochi on February 24, his spokesperson confirmed.

The German president has failed to make an official state visit to Russia since taking office in March 2012.

There are protocol difficulties for a head of state to attend an Olympic Games if an official state visit has not already taken place.

However, Gauck has repeatedly criticised Russia’s deficit of rule of law and treatment of critical media.

A planned visit in June 2012 failed to take place after Russian President cited time constraints.