“Sports are a connective link between people of various different cultures, religions and countries. They constitute a common language that is characterized by the acceptance of rules and the striving for an ethical self-perception that is sustained by a mindset of fairness, integrity and integration.”
Matthias Schmidt has been a member of the German Bundestag since 2013. Born in Northern Hesse, he got his High School education at the Phillippinum Gymnasium in Marburg in 1982. After obtaining his degree in public administration from the Fachhochschule des Bundes in Cologne, he worked at the German Federal Statistical Office („Statistisches Bundesamt“) – first in Wiesbaden, later as Administrative Director in Berlin, where he resides today. Schmidt is 52 years old, married with three children and has one grandson.
Since 2006, Matthias Schmidt has been a member of the SPD parliamentary group in the district parliament („Bezirksverordnetensammlung“) of Treptow-Köpenick, becoming Chairman of the group in 2011. In 2013, he was elected to the Bundestag via party list. As part of his parliamentary duties, eh serves as a member of the Committee on Internal Affairs and the Sports Committee. He also functions as Deputy Spokesman of the „Landesgruppe Ost“. In addition to his commitment to the promotion of sports, his political work also encompasses the fight against right-wing extremism as well as the strengthening of democratic principles. The recognition of lifetime achievements of East German citizens is of special importance to him as the representative of an East Berlin electoral district. In addition to his political activities, Schmidt is committed to creating and maintaining an immigrant-friendly, open arms policy in his district. Maintaining the regional town twinning agreements and partnerships has also been of great importance to him for many years.