Städtepartnerschaftliche Aktivitäten des Stadtbezirks Bad Godesberg

Stellungnahme der Verwaltung
öffentlich
230196-01 ST
Die Oberbürgermeisterin
Federführung:
Bezirksverwaltungsstelle Bad Godesberg
Dezernat:
Dez. I
Städtepartnerschaftliche Aktivitäten des
Stadtbezirks Bad Godesberg
Beratungsfolge
Bezirksvertretung Bad Godesberg 01.03.2023 Kenntnisnahme
Inhalt der Stellungnahme:
1. Aus welchen Gründen wurde die Bezirksvertretung Bad Godesberg nicht
über den Mitte des Jahres von den Vertretern aus Windsor & Maidenhead
versandten umfangreichen Fragebogen zur weiteren Ausrichtung der
Städtepartnerschaften sowie die Antwort des Bezirksbürgermeisters hierauf
informiert?
Die Beantwortung des Fragebogens ist Teil des andauernden
Diskussionsprozesses mit Vertretern*innen der Partnerstädte Bad
Godesbergs über die weitere Ausrichtung der gemeinsamen Aktivitäten.
Dieser langwierige Diskussionsprozess wird mit Partnerstädten aus fünf
Nationen geführt. Dabei werden die personellen und finanziellen
Ressourcen der Partnerstädte immer knapper. Die Verwaltung wird der
Bezirksvertretung über den Fortgang der Gespräche und ein
abschließendes Ergebnis des Prozesses berichten.
2. Welche Fragen im Detail des von den Vertretern aus Windsor &
Maidenhead versandten Fragebogens wurden wie vom
Bezirksbürgermeister beantwortet?
Die Verwaltung stellt der Bezirksvertretung Bad Godesberg den
Fragebogen sowie die Antworten im Anhang zur Verfügung.
3. Wie hoch ist der für die Betreuung der Bad Godesberger
Städtepartnerschaften und –freundschaften in der Bezirksverwaltungsstelle
vorgesehene Arbeitsanteil und in welcher Höhe ist im vergangenen Jahr
tatsächlich Arbeit für den Zweck geleistet worden?
Für die Betreuung aller sechs Städtepartnerschaften und -freundschaften ist
eine teilzeitbeschäftigte Mitarbeiterin der Bezirksverwaltungsstelle
zuständig, die zudem zahlreiche andere Aufgabengebiete abdeckt. Der
mögliche Arbeitsanteil für Städtepartnerschaften und -freundschaften richtet
sich demzufolge nach anstehenden Projekten der Städtepartnerschaften
sowie den freien Kapazitäten nach Erledigung von anderen anstehenden
Aufgaben und Projekten.
4. Welche Aktivitäten zur Pflege der Bad Godesberger StädtepartnerschaftenSeite 1 von 9
Seite 2
und –freundschaften sind für das Jahr 2023 geplant?
Derzeit wird auf die Auswertung der Fragebögen aus Windsor &
Maidenhead gewartet. Um den Prozess voranzutreiben, ist angedacht, die
Ansprechpartner*innen der Städtepartnerschaften voraussichtlich im Herbst
2023 zu einem Austausch nach Bad Godesberg einzuladen. Hierbei könnte
sich nach der pandemie-bedingten Pause und dem Brexit über künftige
städtepartnerschaftliche Projekte persönlich ausgetauscht werden.
5. Welche Möglichkeiten sieht die Bezirksverwaltung Bad Godesberg die
Betreuung der Bad Godesberger Städtepartnerschaften und –
freundschaften über das bisherige Maß hinaus zu intensivieren?
Die Erledigung der Aufgaben im Zusammenhang mit den
Städtepartnerschaften und –freundschaften des Stadtbezirks Bad
Godesberg ist abhängig von den personellen und organisatorischen
Ressourcen und den von der Bezirksverwaltungsstelle vorrangig zu
erledigenden Aufgaben. Die Bezirksverwaltungsstelle bemüht sich, im
Rahmen der zur Verfügung stehenden organisatorischen und personellen
Möglichkeiten, die Kontakte zu den Partnerstädten zu pflegen und
Maßnahmen zu organisieren. Vorrangiges Ziel ist es dabei, die durch die
Corona-Pandemie, den Brexit und andere Entwicklungen in den
Partnerstädten in der Vergangenheit eingeschränkten Begegnungs-
möglichkeiten wieder zu beleben und in Zusammenarbeit mit den Partnern
ggfl. neue Inhalte und Ziele der partnerschaftlichen Zusammenarbeit zu
definieren.
6. Welche Projekte und Aktivitäten wurden im Rahmen der
Städtepartnerschaften und –freundschaften des Stadtbezirks Bad
Godesberg in der zweiten Hälfte des Jahres 2021 durchgeführt?
Die Pandemie hatte unmittelbare Auswirkungen auf die
städtepartnerschaftlichen Aktivitäten Bad Godesbergs. In der zweiten
Jahreshälfte 2021 fanden - nicht zuletzt aufgrund unsicherer
Planungsmöglichkeiten durch die Pandemie - keine weiteren
städtepartnerschaftlichen Aktivitäten statt.
Anlage/n
1 Fragebogen (öffentlich)
2 Antwortschreiben (öffentlich)Seite 2 von 9
07/02/2022
1
Twin-Towns Youth Sports Festival
Introduction: Item 10 of the minutes of the meeting of the Twinning Committee held on 17th
December 2021 concerned a report on the difficulties being experienced by the Twinning
Committee and the Councils of many of the European towns twinned with the Royal Borough
of Windsor and Maidenhead, in the funding of twinning events, in particular, the biennial
Twin-Towns Youth Sports Festival. This event is recognised and acknowledged as the biggest,
most ambitious and most expensive event in the Twin-Towns programme of activities. Kevin
McGarry supported by David Maskell, undertook to examine the format of this event and to
propose modifications to the way it is organised in order to reduce the costs to respective
host towns when responsibility for its organisation fell to them at intervals of 10 years.
Consultation: Soundings taken from representatives of each of the Twin-Towns that generally
participate in this event, viz. Saint Cloud; Bad Godesberg; Frascati; Kortrijk and
Windsor/Maidenhead, confirmed a view that the Festival provided the participants with a
most valuable and worthwhile experience, both sporting and culturally, that should continue
as an integral element of the Twin-Towns’ programme of events, but measures should be
identified to organise it in a more cost-effective way. The Twin-Town representatives made
suggestions about what these measures might be taken and their ideas are incorporated into
the proposals set out below.
Historic Incidence: The records show that the first Twin-Towns Youth Sports Festival took
place in Bad Godesberg in 1978 and, thereafter, it became an annual event in the programme
hosted, in turn, by the above-mentioned twin-towns until 1997. At a meeting of
representatives of all the participating twin-towns in 1997, it was agreed that, due to
escalating costs, the Festival would be held biennially. This arrangement has pertained since
it was hosted by Kortrijk in 1998 until the last occasion in 2018 hosted by Frascati. Prior to the
2018 Festival, a letter was circulated to all the participating Twin-Towns by Monsieur
Berdoati, Mayor of Saint-Cloud, explaining that, with regret, Saint-Cloud would be unable to
host the Festival in 2020, due to budgetary restrictions imposed by the State. It transpired,
however, that the Covid-19 pandemic that emerged at the turn of the 2019/20 year and its
associated restrictions brought into effect to control the virus, would have precluded the
Festival from taking place, in any circumstances, during 2020.
Mr. Berdoati’s letter of July 2018 made mention, also, that “after consulting with business
managers in Saint-Cloud, he wished to set up twinning activities geared towards economic
affairs and to support exchanges between the managers and the employees of companies
based in the twin towns. It is questionable whether or not M. Berdoati envisaged that this
idea may have any bearing on the Youth Sports Festival. He did undertake to make further
contact with the twin-towns so that his idea could be worked through to the benefit of each
of the towns concerned. Unfortunately, the Covid–19 Pandemic intervened and may have
prevented M. Berdoati from fulfilling this undertaking.Seite 3 von 9
07/02/2022
2
Twin-Town Representatives’ suggestions for reducing Festival costs:
(a) Hold the event on a less frequent basis: The Sports Festival is targeted towards young
people aged between 16 and 18 years of age, corresponding with their final years at
school. If the timing were extended to three, or more, year intervals, this would interfere
with the continuity of this opportunity. Additionally, such extension would conflict with
the conclusion of the representatives in relation to the value of the Festival identified
earlier in this report.
Recommendation: That the interval of two years between Sports Festivals be retained
(b) Participants: Current custom has established that each participating Twin-Town are
invited to select teams of 24 young people (12 Boys and 12 Girls) who must be 16 years
of age or over on 1st September and not exceeding 18 years of age on 31st August in the
year that the Youth Festival takes place.
Recommendation: That, in future, participating Twin-Towns shall be invited to select
teams of 16 young people (8 Boys and 8 Girls) aged as previously.
(c) Calendar Timing of Event: The Youth Sports Festival has, traditionally, been held
biennially in September, in the first weeks of the new academic year, often taking
advantage of the availability of student accommodation at Higher Education Institutions.
Recommendation: That the calendar timing of the Youth Sports Festival remain as
previously.
(d) Period of time over which the Festival takes place: A period of 4 days, (3 nights) has been
allocated to this Festival in the past but, taking into account the geographical locations of
the Twin-Towns, the actual time for competition and social interaction is, in fact, only 2
days given that days 1 and 4 are taken up with travelling to and from the host town. To
be a “Festival of Sport”, this event needs to be concentrated into at least 2 days.
Recommendation: That the Festival continue to be held over 4 days (3nights) from
Thursday till Sunday inc. as previously.
(e) Sports Disciplines: The name of this event, by definition, suggests that it must embrace
competition in a range of sports. This, in turn, prescribes that as much time as possible
over the 2 days is dedicated to competition. One of the accepted customs over the years
has been that both Athletics and Swimming are included, given that these two disciplines
offer recognition of individual endeavour as well as a measure of teamwork expertise.
They also provide a level of flexibility to the host town in the specific elements to be
included.Seite 4 von 9
07/02/2022
3
Other Team Sports: Limiting the number of team participants to 16 (8 Boys and 8
Girls) does dictate to some extent the Sports disciplines that can be included. However,
such a limit would enable most of those that have featured in the past as options for
inclusion as follows: -
(1) Volleyball for Girls – 6 per team + 2 substitutes.
(2) Basketball for Boys – 5 per team + 3 substitutes
(3) Football for Girls – 6 per team + 2 substitutes
(4) Football for Boys – 6 per team + 2 substitutes
(5) Handball for Boys – 6 per team + 2 substitutes
(6) Netball for Girls – 7 per team + 1 substitute
NOTE: The Overall Twin-Towns programme has included, quite separately, a biennial
Football Tournament for Local Government Officers from each of the Twin-Towns
which is held on the intervening year between Youth Sports Festivals. The suggestion
has been advanced that a 6-a-side Football Tournament be included as an option in
the Youth Sports Festival (see (4) above) and that the LGO’s Football be discontinued.
Recommendation: That both Athletics and Swimming continue to feature in the
programme for future Youth Sports Festivals but that the respective host towns may
choose to include other options from the list above.
That the biennial Football Tournament for Local Government Officers be discontinued.
(f) Tournament Awards: Historically, there have been a range of Cups/Trophies to recognise
winners, second and third places in individual competitions and, also, to recognise
winners, second and third places for team competitions. Additionally, some host towns
have given “friendship” medals to all participants.
Recommendation: That Cups/Trophies be awarded to recognise the Winner, the
Runner-Up and the Third place Team in the Overall Competition only - the
presentation of “friendship” medals to be discontinued.
(g) Official Guests: Limit Official Guests to the Mayor and Mayoress (or their representatives)
+ 2 other representative of respective Twinning Committees, all of whom should be
required to pay a fee of say £150 pp. (or equivalent in Euros) towards their
Accommodation and Food.
(h) Supervision: Each Twin Town to be limited to the attendance of 2 Team Managers
(1 Male and 1 Female), each participating town to be required to pay a fee of say £150pp.
or equivalent in Euros) to the host town towards their Accommodation and Food.Seite 5 von 9
07/02/2022
4
(i) Team members: It has long been the custom for the individuals representing the Windsor
and Maidenhead team at this Festival to be required to contribute towards the costs of a
Team “Strip” and Travel. On the last occasion in 2018, the contribution amounted to £100
pp. and each team member retains ownership of their individual “strip”. These fees are
retained by Windsor and Maidenhead to mitigate the costs involved. It will be for each
Twin-Town participating in future Festivals whether or not to follow this example.
Recommendation: That Windsor and Maidenhead Twinning Committee review the
level of contribution required of the young people selected to represent Windsor and
Maidenhead at the Youth Sports Festival and that it be set at, say, £150 pp.
(j) Coach Drivers: Where participating teams travel to the Festival by Coach, the town of
respective participating teams will be required to pay a fee to the host town of, say £150
(or equivalent in Euros) per Coach Driver towards the costs of Accommodation and Food.
(k) Invitations to additional Twin-Towns: It has been accepted by all the original twin-towns
involved in the sports Festival that, where the host town has other towns with whom they
are twinned and wish to invite them to participate, then this is permitted.
Recommendation: That the host town may invite “other towns” with whom they have
a twinning relationship to participate in the Youth Sports Festival, but that all
additional costs arising from such an invitation are borne by the host town. There shall
be no obligation on any of the original twin-towns, subsequently, to invite these
“other towns” to participate in later Festivals.
_________________________Seite 6 von 9
Stadtbezirk Bad Godesberg
Der Bezirksbürgermeister
UNSERE PARTNERSTÄDTE
SAINT CLOUD FRASCATI WINDSOR-MAIDENHEAD KORTRIJK BERLIN-STEGLITZ YALOVA
FRANKREICH ITALIEN GROSSBRITANNIEN BELGIEN TÜRKEI
SEIT1957 SEIT 1957 SEIT 1960 SEIT 1964 SEIT 1962 SEIT 1969
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Postfach 201 254 - D-53142 Bonn - Tel.: (0228) 77 31 81 - Fax: (0228) 77 32 96
Hausadresse für Besucher: Bad Godesberg - Kurfürstenallee 1a - D-53177 Bonn
Mayor
John Story
to: Alison.Singleton@rbwm.gov.uk
Dear Mr. Mayor,
I am delighted about the initiative of the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
to advance the future work of the partner cities. I would like to thank you for your letter
and the report from the RBWM Twinning Committee on the further development of our
town twinning.
Unfortunately, the town twinning was pushed into the background over the past two
years due to the corona pandemic. Due to the infection situation, no personal meetings
were possible and the focus of work in the administration has shifted at times in order
to control the infection process.
Even if the situation is getting better, it is not foreseeable how and whether the
pandemic will further restrict us. Nevertheless, it is right and important to fill the town
twinning with life again. Virtual meetings via zoom have proven to be valuable and
helpful, but they cannot replace personal meetings and the direct exchange in the
work of the town twinning.Seite 7 von 9
Bad Godesberg is very interested to intensify the town twinning relationships again. I
agree that the previous projects need to be changed due to the reduced human and
financial resources.
According to the schedule, Bad Godesberg would be the organizer of the youth sports
festival in 2024. We advocate observing the correct order of youth sports festivals in
order to ensure equal financial and organizational burdens for the cities. So next - if
possible - St Cloud and then Windsor Maidenhead would be in charge of hosting the
next festivals to come. Afterwards, Bad Godesberg will gladly welcome international
visitors to the sports festival.
I would like to sincerely thank you for thinking so intensively about the continued
existence of the town twinning and for having already developed very good
suggestions.
After consultation with Ms. Meißner and Mr. Schäfer from the district administration of
Bad Godesberg, we would like to comment on the points you have suggested as
follows:
a) The interval of two years between the sports festivals is advocated.
b) A reduction of the team members to 8 boys and 8 girls is supported. If it becomes
apparent at the next youth sports festival that not all sports can be ideally covered, the
number must be increased again.
c) Autumn is well suited for holding the youth sports festival and should be retained in
all twin towns for planning safety. The dates for the youth sports festival should be
announced in January of the year in which the festival takes place.
d) The duration should not be shortened for the given reasons.
e) For the choice of sports, we propose a different approach: The logistical effort for
holding a swimming competition is - at least here in Bad Godesberg - extremely high
and probably cannot be implemented. Therefore, we propose to focus more on team
sports and athletics. Another possibility: Each city is free to choose what kind of sports
it wants to offer from the three main sports swimming, athletics and team sports. The
other cities will be informed early to select the team members.Seite 8 von 9
We agree that the biennial football tournament for Local Government Officers will be
discontinued - the focus should be placed on regular and more content-oriented
encounters between young people.
f) The Friendship Medals will be discontinued.
g) + h) + i) + j): The increase/collection of participation fees for official representatives,
coaches, team members and bus drivers are endorsed.
k): Each city can continue to invite its other partner cities. Additional costs are not
passed on to the cities in the partnership ring.
We are looking forward to an effective exchange and are hoping to see you again
soon.
Yours sincerely
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Christoph Jansen
Mayor of Bad Godesberg
Bad Godesberg – April 2022Seite 9 von 9