Bernd Roßmann awarded the Order of Merit of Germany

Erfurt (FIL) On September 28th, the coach, functionary and former luge athlete Bernd Roßmann from Ilmenau was awarded the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany at the Collegium Maius in Erfurt for his outstanding commitment to sport. Thuringia's Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow presented the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on behalf of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Bernd Roßmann has lived for the Thuringian luge sport since his childhood and has made Thuringia famous worldwide as a winter sports destination. Roßmann has contributed to making the Thuringian Luge and Bobsleigh Federation the most successful sports association in Thuringia for decades. 

His own sporting career was abruptly ended in 1969 for so-called ‘political reasons’. This made it all the more important for Bernd Roßmann to be able to work in the newly formed Thuringian Luge and Bobsleigh Federation after reunification. In various functions Bernd Roßmann made sure that Oberhof became known as a winter sports region far beyond the state borders. From 1990 to 1994 he was a founding member and the first freely elected President of the Thuringian Luge and Bobsleigh Federation, and from 1994 to 2004 served as Vice-President.

As head of the Organising Committee he was responsible for the organisation of the Luge World Cups, the FIL Youth Games, the Junior World Cups as well as the European and German Championships from 2002 to 2013. From 2009 to 2013, he was also honourary Managing Director of TSBV-Oberhof-Event GmbH.

It is thanks to Bernd Roßmann that the annual Luge World Cup in Oberhof is an event that attracts countless guests. Most recently, the World Cup had over 11,000 spectators, which is a record number of spectators for this winter sport. With this winter sports event, the best of Thuringia is seen across the world.

Bernd Roßmann has done a lot for winter sports in Thuringia, especially for the promotion of young talents and top-class athletes. Thanks to his commitment, the sporting opportunities in both competitive and recreational sports as well as in the State and Federal Training Center Oberhof have been continuously expanded. Names such as Jens Müller, André Lange and Silke Kraushaar-Pielach are closely associated with his work. 

For his merits in the international luge sport, Bernd Roßmann received the Badge of Honour of the International Luge Federation, FIL, in 2009 and the Badge of Honour of the Bobsleigh and Sled Federation for Germany in gold in 2014. It is people like Bernd Roßmann who ensure Thuringia's good reputation in the world.

photos: TSK / Jacob Schröter