Through its “Sport with Courage” initiative, the German Sports Youth (dsj) aims to lay the groundwork for a fundamental understanding of democracy and the sustainable promotion of democratic participation (in accordance with the dsj’s Youth Charter).

To ensure this, the dsj implements initiatives addressing specific social issues and develops positions on relevant social developments. In addition, it provides its member organisations, active members of sports clubs and interested individuals outside the sports sector with resources and guidance materials, such as a collection of materials on the topic of “Sport with Courage.”  

Through the federal program “Cohesion through Participation” (Z:T), the Federal Ministry of the Interior funds projects to promote democratic participation in rural and structurally disadvantaged areas. In the nonprofit, organized sports sector, ten youth sports organisations, state sports federations/associations, and TEAM Sport-Bayern are currently receiving Z:T funding. The dsj is active in Z:T as a supporting measure with a coordinating role.

In early 2023, the dsj and the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) launched the joint project “(Anti-)Racism in Organized Sports.” The project offers a significant opportunity to sustainably strengthen anti-racism efforts within the landscape of clubs and federations and to further develop ideas for the structures of organized sports.

Since August 2023, the German Sports Youth (dsj) has been implementing the “Federal Program Against Right-Wing Extremism and Misanthropy in Sports”—which is also funded by the Federal Ministry of the Interior (BMI). Through various packages of measures, it promotes democracy-building activities in sports clubs, sports associations, and fan projects—in both youth and adult sectors.

January 2025, the dsj carry out an innovation project as part of the federal program “Demokratie leben!” (Living Democracy!). The project “kontakt. – Ultranationalist and Far-Right Movements in the Sports Environment” will focus on Turkish far-right extremism in 2025. The dsj’s goal is to raise awareness among those active in sports about Turkish right-wing extremism and its manifestations—including within the sports environment—to impart knowledge, and to build sustainable networks. In addition, the dsj has commissioned a research project to scientifically document this phenomenon in sports.

The German Sports Youth (dsj) views participation and diversity as a dynamic process that ensures the self-determined and equal participation of all people in the various structures of society. It regards diversity—and the diversity of all limitations—as an enrichment. In the area of participation and diversity, the German Youth Sports Association highlights that sports are diverse and possess an integrative and inclusive power that connects people across a wide range of diversity dimensions.