| Silbernes Lorbeerblatt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Badge and Ribbon |
| Presented by | Federal Republic of Germany |
| Status | Currently awarded |
| Established | 1950 |
Silbernes Lorbeerblatt (Silver Laurel Leaf), the highest sports award in Germany, was endowed on 23 June 1950 by the German President Theodor Heuss. It is awarded to athletes and teams of exemplary character that have won medals at Olympic and Paralympic Games, won important international titles like the football World Cup, or placed several times at international championships.[1]
To be honored with Silbernes Lorbeerblatt, an athlete or a team has to be nominated by the president of the German Olympic Sports Confederation to the German President. The request will be reviewed by the Office of the German President and the Federal Ministry of the Interior as this agency is responsible for sport in Germany. The President and the Minister of the Interior both sign the application, following article 58 of the Grundgesetz.[2]
- ^ „Mit dem Silbernen Lorbeerblatt wird nicht nur die sportliche Höchstleistung gewürdigt. Es ist gleichfalls eine Würdigung der „menschlichen und charakterlichen Haltung“ (Federal Ministry of the Interior Otto Schily on 31 March 2003 in Berlin)
- ^ article 58 Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany: Anordnungen und Verfügungen des Bundespräsidenten bedürfen zu ihrer Gültigkeit der Gegenzeichnung durch den Bundeskanzler oder durch den zuständigen Bundesminister.