DOSB have offered their support to the “wide band of welcome” campaign ©Twitter/DOSB

The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) have joined charities and human rights organisations to launch a campaign aiming to show that refugees are welcome in the country.

The campaign titled the “wide band of welcome” has also been supported by social welfare organisation Diakonie Germany, the German Red Cross, the Workers' Welfare Association and the Central Welfare Office of Jews.

The initiative features several colour fabric bracelets stating "Welcome" or "Refugees welcome".

It comes in response to the crisis which has seen refugees from the Middle East and Africa attempt to reach Europe in search of safety.

The office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has estimated more than 300,000 refugees and migrants have attempted to reach Europe so far this year.

Around 2,600 migrants and refugees have believed to have died in making dangerous sea crossings across the Mediterranean after fleeing their homes, mainly as a result of war. 

Germany expects to take in 800,000 asylum seekers this year, four times more than last year's total and DOSB chief executive Michael Vesper believes the campaign shows the country’s continued support to those seeking safe sanctuary. 

Germany expects to take in 800,000 asylum seekers this year
Germany expects to take in 800,000 asylum seekers this year ©Getty Images

"Sports clubs are decades of experience of integration and can bring together people of different backgrounds and languages together peacefully, and is ideally suited as a bridge for integration in other areas of society,” he said.

“Many sports clubs set currently clear sign of a lived culture of welcome, offer sports adventures, collecting clothes and sports equipment or help with administrative formalities.

“The bracelet makes this attitude - for human and solidary assistance and against exclusion and racism - significantly.

“Just because sports for integration is so important, we also call on the Federal Government, states and municipalities, only short-term use sports facilities for accommodation of refugees and to provide decent accommodation as soon as possible."



Related stories
September 2015: IOC announce emergency $2 million fund aimed at helping refugees as crisis in Europe grows
September 2015: David Owen: The migrant crisis gives sport a chance to show how serious it is about making the world a better place
September 2015: DOSB shows support for "Right to human rights" campaign
September 2015: German Olympic Sports Confederation confirmed as top sport provider in country
July 2015: DOSB to play leading role in Senior Citizens Fair to be opened by Chancellor Merkel