- The partnership aims to enable Germany’s top athletes to achieve further success and to anchor the values of professional sports more firmly as guiding principles in society
- The partnership’s centerpiece is a fund that provides tailored support to athletes, helping them reach their peak performance
- Karsten Petry, Board Member of Sporthilfe, ‘Together with Tipico, we want to help outstanding athletes become true champions – and, in doing so, tomorrow’s role models.’
Outstanding athletic achievements are never a matter of chance: To be among the best, talent and discipline have to be matched by an environment that enables performance at the highest level. For this reason, Tipico is becoming Sporthilfe’s new national partner. Together with the foundation, it will support Germany’s top athletes – especially during critical phases of their sporting careers. The goal is not only to accompany athletes on their journey to the top, but also to foster a culture that recognizes the sacrifices required to reach world-class status and values excellence. In this way, the partnership intends to place the values of professional sports back at the center of public debate.
The core of this multi-year partnership is a newly established fund for future champions. It provides targeted, individualized support at decisive moments in an athlete’s career. The fund’s primary target group consists of athletes who have already achieved initial success and are now looking to take the next big step: To become sustainably and consistently successful – true champions. The scope and focus of support are tailored to the specific needs of each athlete.
Eligible athletes can apply for this new funding opportunity via an application form and a short video. In the video, applicants introduce themselves and explain how they would use the funding and what sporting goal they aim to achieve with it. Following the endorsement of the relevant sports federation, Sporthilfe’s expert committee will decide which athletes will receive support from the fund for their individual and tailored measures.
Karsten Petry, Sporthilfe Board Member for Marketing, Sales and Events: ‘Our Olympic and Paralympic athletes show what it means to push performance limits. To reach their full potential, they need optimal conditions and individualized support. That’s exactly what this new partnership with Tipico offers: A personalized budget for each athlete. Together with Tipico, we will help outstanding athletes become even better, true champions – and thus tomorrow’s role models.’
Axel Hefer, CEO of Tipico Group: ‘Top athletes impress with their determination, ambition, discipline and perseverance. They are role models for our society. For this reason, we all benefit when they are provided with an environment in which they can be maximally successful. Together with Sporthilfe, we are very proud to support the best in their disciplines on their way to the very top.’
With Tipico as a new national partner, the number of partners at Sporthilfe’s highest partnership level rises to eight – for the first time in the foundation’s nearly 60-year history. Alongside Tipico, the leading provider of sports betting and online gaming in German-speaking countries, the group of supporters includes Mercedes-Benz, Deutsche Telekom, Deutsche Bank, Deutsche Post, PwC and Generali & Deutsche Vermögensberatung AG. In early February, DEUTZ also joined as a national partner. These organizations make a particularly significant financial and moral contribution to supporting Germany’s top athletes.
With this partnership, Tipico expands its commitment to German sports, complementing its existing partnerships with the Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, 3. Liga and the men’s and women’s DFB Cup.
About Sporthilfe
Since 1967, we have been supporting both up-and-coming and elite athletes on their path to major achievements, establishing us as Germany’s leading private sports support initiative. We achieve this through responsible and creative support programs that are continually adjusted to the needs and circumstances of our athletes. Our support extends beyond financial assistance – we also help with career planning and personal development. The athletes we support have contributed to 90 percent of Germany’s successes at international competitions. This includes 299 gold medals at the Olympic Games and 372 gold medals at the Paralympics (as of February 18, 2026).
About Tipico Gruppe
Tipico Group is the leading sports betting and online gaming provider in Germany and, in terms of its subsidiary ADMIRAL Austria, the number one operator in sports betting and retail slot gaming in Austria.
As a pioneer in the industry, Tipico has been offering its customers state-of-the-art technology and innovative products for more than 20 years. Tipico continuously sets new technological standards, especially in terms of speed, security, and user-friendliness. Hundreds of developers work on improving our products every day in our technology hubs in Germany, Austria and Malta. We are particularly focused on data security and consumer protection; effective and evidence-based player protection measures are an integral part of all our offerings.
Founded in 2004, Tipico Group now employs around 3,800 staff members. Together with our partners, almost 6,800 people take care of our customers every day in over 1,250 betting shops across Germany and Austria, making Tipico Group the operator of the largest shop network in the German-speaking region.
As National Sponsor of Stiftung Deutsche Sporthilfe Tipico is heavily involved in German sports and maintains partnerships with Bundesliga, 2. Bundesliga, 3. Liga and Women’s and Men’s DFB-Pokal.
ADMIRAL pursues a broad commitment to sports in Austria and is, among other engagements, a partner of Österreichische Fußball-Bundesliga (ÖFBL) and of Österreichischer Fußball-Bund (ÖFB).
Images for editorial use can be found here: Sporthilfe X Tipico
