Football: Sports Events Featuring Soccer - Church criticizes BVB's partnership with Rheinmetall.
The representative of Germany's Evangelical Church (EKD) for sports, Thorsten Latzel, has slammed Borussia Dortmund's new advertising partnership with arms manufacturer Rheinmetall. In a statement released by the EKD on Thursday, Latzel called the collaboration "out of place" for sports stadiums. This move is deemed questionable due to several factors, including its implications during international tournaments, which, according to Latzel, should foster peaceful interaction among people. He further argued that the Olympic Truce's spirit, which paused military activities during competition, would be contradicted by promoting weapons production.
Even though it's crucial to back Ukraine in response to Russia's unlawful aggression and bolster Europe's defense capacities, it's a different story altogether to advertise for weapons manufacturers and make war and weaponry appear usual. "War and military violence can only ever be a final resort to avoid more extreme violence. They should never be considered 'normal'," insists Latzel.
On Wednesday, both Rheinmetall and Borussia Dortmund revealed their three-year deal, which includes prominent advertising spaces, marketing privileges, and stadium and website event/hospitality offers.
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- Borussia Dortmund's headquarters, located in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, has drawn criticism from the EKD after announcing a partnership with the defense industry giant, Rheinmetall.
- Despite Germany's need to strengthen its defense capabilities in response to Russia's aggression towards Ukraine, Thorsten Latzel, the EKD's representative for sports, criticized Borussia Dortmund's decision to advertise for an armaments group like Rheinmetall.
- The three-year partnership between Borussia Dortmund and Rheinmetall includes advertising spaces, marketing privileges, and event/hospitality offers at the Dortmund stadium and on the team's website.
- In light of the Olympic Truce's spirit, which aims to halt military activities during competitions to promote peace, Latzel believes the collaboration between Borussia Dortmund and Rheinmetall contradicts these values and normalizes war and weaponry.
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