Deutsche Schulsportstiftung

What Deutsche Schulsportstiftung does

Deutsche Schulsportstiftung (DSSS) is a German private non-profit foundation (Stiftung des bürgerlichen Rechts) founded on 1 February 1999, with its legal seat at the Ministry for Culture, Youth and Sport of Baden-Württemberg in Stuttgart and an operational Geschäftsstelle at Olympiapark Berlin established in 2018. It is the official organizer and sponsor of 'Jugend trainiert für Olympia & Paralympics,' the world's largest school sports competition, which originated in 1969 and brings together approximately 800,000 students annually from schools across all 16 German federal states to compete in 26 Olympic and Paralympic sports across three national finals per year.

The foundation's product surface is centered on competition programming rather than technology. Core offerings include the unified Olympic/Paralympic competition, the 'Jugend trainiert-Grundschulwettbewerb' (an elementary school variant launched in 2022 for ages 6–10), a mascot, and a newsletter. The foundation does not develop proprietary software or SaaS products and has no disclosed API, mobile app, or AI capabilities. It does, however, run a YouTube channel and an active presence on Facebook and Instagram, and experimented with livestreaming the 100th Berlin final on Solidsport in September 2022.

DSSS does not charge participants; revenue is generated entirely through a mix of corporate sponsorship and institutional funding. Corporate sponsors include Deutsche Bahn (Hauptsponsor since 2012, renewed for additional years), Allianz (Premium Partner since 2021), DFL Deutsche Fußball Liga, JAKO AG (equipment supplier from 2025), Erreà Sport, bett1.de, AOK Nordost, and BSR. Institutional support comes from the 16 federal-state education ministries — represented on the Stiftungsversammlung and co-financing the Berlin office — together with the DOSB, Deutsche Sportjugend, Deutscher Behindertensportverband, and Deutsche Behindertensportjugend, all of which sit on the Foundation Assembly. The competition operates under the patronage of the incumbent German Federal President.

Name

Deutsche Schulsportstiftung

Legal name

Deutsche Schulsportstiftung

Website

https://deutscheschulsportstiftung.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Deutsche Schulsportstiftung is a German non-profit foundation that organizes 'Jugend trainiert für Olympia & Paralympics,' the world's largest school sports competition, serving approximately 800,000 students annually across all 16 federal states through corporate sponsorship and institutional funding.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

School Sports Competitions

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Amateur & Grassroots Tournament Organizers (MPAKADAH), Disability & Adaptive Sport Governing Bodies (Paralympic & Sport-Specific) (MPAKAFAL), Interscholastic Athletics (Varsity/JV Teams) (EDAJAJAA)

Keywords

• School sports competition
• Youth athletics programs
• School sports foundation
• Olympic youth competitions
• Paralympic youth sports

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sponsorship and Partnership Revenue: Corporate sponsors such as Deutsche Bahn (main sponsor since 2012), Allianz (premium partner), DFL, bett1.de, AOK Nordost, BSR, and equipment suppliers like JAKO AG and Erreà provide financial and in-kind support.
2. Institutional Funding: The foundation receives support from the 16 federal state education ministries and operates under the patronage of the current German Federal President. The states finance the professional office established in 2018.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Deutsche Schulsportstiftung is a German non-profit foundation that organizes and operates 'Jugend trainiert für Olympia & Paralympics', the world's largest school sports competition. It runs three annual federal finals (winter, spring, autumn) across 26 Olympic and Paralympic sports, reaching approximately 800,000 students from all 16 German federal states each year. Since 2022, it also operates the Grundschulwettbewerb, an elementary school competition format for children aged 6-10.

Product overview

Deutsche Schulsportstiftung operates a single unified product—the 'Jugend trainiert für Olympia & Paralympics' school sports competition—alongside complementary offerings. The core product is the nationwide competition featuring Olympic and Paralympic sports across three annual federal finals (winter, spring, autumn) in 26 sports. Added to this in 2022, the elementary school variant ('Grundschulwettbewerb') extends the program to primary school children with age-appropriate challenges. Supporting the competition are a named mascot character and a newsletter service for stakeholder communications. The foundation does not offer technology platforms or SaaS products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Jugend trainiert für Olympia & Paralympics: The nationwide school sports competition organized by the foundation, covering olympic and paralympic sports for students across Germany. It is the world's largest school sports competition.

Products and services

• Jugend trainiert für Olympia & Paralympics The world's largest school sports competition featuring Olympic and Paralympic sports for students across Germany. The competition includes three annual federal finals (winter, spring, autumn) in 26 sports (19 Olympic, 7 Paralympic), with approximately 800,000 student participants annually. Events take place in Berlin for spring/autumn finals and in Baden-Württemberg/Bavaria for winter finals.
• Jugend trainiert-Grundschulwettbewerb Elementary school sports competition format launched in 2022 for primary school children (ages 6-10). Features 52 diverse, cross-sport, partially inclusive challenges covering eight movement fields. Conducted individually at each school rather than as a national qualification competition, focused on team-building and personal development rather than elimination-based competition.
• Schulsport-Stafette und Bundesfinale 2021 vor Ort Alternative competition format created during the COVID-19 pandemic to replace centralized federal finals. Allowed schools to participate in a 9-week sports relay activity across federal states, with qualifying teams participating in the 'Bundesfinale 2021 vor Ort' in 18 Olympic and Paralympic sports.

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 800,000 students participate annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• DFL Deutsche Fußball LigacoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership began with the 2022/23 school year, with joint interest in promoting youth and school sports. DFL is a founding partner of the new elementary school competition.
• AllianzflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2021Allianz joined as a Premium Partner in 2021 during the Corona pandemic to support youth sports. They sponsor the Allianz Values Challenge with categories for Inclusion, Sustainability, Fairplay, and Diversity.
• Deutsche Bahn AGflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2012Deutsche Bahn is the main sponsor (Hauptsponsor) of 'Jugend trainiert für Olympia & Paralympics' since 2012. They support participant travel to national finals (since 1995 as partner) and organize accommodation for approximately 4,500 athletes during finals. The partnership was renewed for another year in 2021.
• JAKO AGcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerStarting January 1, 2025, JAKO became the official equipment supplier (Ausrüster) of DSSS, providing clothing for volunteers, officials, and teams.
• Erreà SportminorGTM or Marketing PartnerItalian sports equipment manufacturer with a two-year contract (since 2020) including financial and in-kind contributions.
• bett1.deminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGerman mattress manufacturer became a new partner in 2021, expanding their sports sponsorship and youth sports promotion efforts.
• AOK NordostminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHealth insurance company partnered to support children and youth as part of their social responsibility initiatives.
• BSR (Berliner Stadtreinigung)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBerlin waste management company partnered as part of social responsibility to support youth sports.
• German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOSB presidents and 16 sports federations are integral members of the Foundation Assembly and co-organizers of the competitions. This is a core structural partnership.
• German Paralympic Sports Federation (DBS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership enables the 'Jugend trainiert für Paralympics' component. In 2018, a new agreement between DSSS and DBS enabled the merger of Olympic and Paralympic competitions.
• Federal States (16 Kultusministerien)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll 16 federal state education ministries participate in the Foundation Assembly, coordinate state-level competitions, and provide institutional funding including for the Berlin office.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS): U.S. national body governing interscholastic athletics across state associations. Directly comparable to DSSS as a school-based sports competition organizer with a multi-state federation model, though larger in operational scope.
• European School Sport Federation (ESSF): European umbrella coordinating school sport competitions across member countries. Directly comparable in function and serves as a potential internationalization channel for the DSSS competition model.
• School Sport Australia: Australian national body coordinating inter-school representative sport across states and territories. Comparable model of state-level federations pooling into national championships for school-age athletes.
• Union Nationale du Sport Scolaire (UNSS): French national federation organizing school sports competitions across primary and secondary schools. Directly comparable institutional structure (national body coordinating school-based athletic competition) and a natural European counterpart to DSSS.
• Amateur Athletic Union (AAU): U.S. youth amateur sports organization running national championships and competition pathways for school-age athletes. Closely mirrors DSSS's youth competition and talent identification model.
• Deutsche Sportjugend (dsj): Youth organization within the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) coordinating youth sport activities across Germany. Comparable in German youth sport coordination role and shares governance representation with DSSS in the Stiftungsversammlung.

Emerging players

• Special Olympics: Global inclusive sports organization for athletes with intellectual disabilities. Comparable in mission alignment around inclusive competition, though DSSS's Paralympic component is structurally integrated rather than standalone.

Broad incumbents

• National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA): U.S. collegiate athletics governing body that, like DSSS, runs national championships and talent identification for student-athletes. Comparable in competition structure and talent-pipeline function, though operating at the collegiate rather than K-12 level.
• International School Sport Federation (ISF): Global umbrella organization for school sport federations worldwide. Relevant as the international body in which DSSS-aligned national school sport structures participate, providing a pathway for DSSS-format export.

Others

• Stiftung Deutsche Sporthilfe: German sports foundation supporting elite athletes financially and through dual-career programs. Comparable as a major German sports foundation with similar sponsorship and patronage dynamics, but focused on athlete support rather than competition organization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/c/Jugendtrainiertf%C3%BCrOlympiaParalympics
• Facebookfacebook.com/jugendtrainiert
• Instagraminstagram.com/jugendtrainiert
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deutsche-schulsportstiftung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Deutsche Schulsportstiftung