How DLV and GLS inspire enthusiasm for sports and logisticsÂ
According to the German Athletics Association (original name: Deutscher Leichtathletik-Verband) (DLV), around 28 million people in Germany alone are interested in athletics. So, it's no wonder that the World Athletics Championships are one of the biggest sporting events in the world. The DLV is responsible for representing German athletes at these events. Micheal Mottl, Managing Director of Deutsche Leichtathletik Marketing GmbH, talks about the complex requirements faced by the world's largest athletics association – and how GLS supports it as a reliable logistics partner. Be inspired by our collaboration with the DLV!
What are the logistical challenges facing the DLV?
In September 2025, the 20th World Athletics Championships took place in Tokyo. The World Championships are held every two years, in addition to the European Championships and numerous other international and national tournaments. “As the DLV, we not only have to coordinate the event logistics for the competitions, but also outfit more than 500 national team athletes every year,” explains Michael Mottl. “The requirements are extremely complex. The nomination windows for World and European Championships are often very short. Nevertheless, every single jersey and training jacket must arrive at the athletes in the right size and on time – regardless of whether they are at a training camp, at a competition, or at home.”
In addition to organizing numerous competitions, the DLV also operates an online shop for its fans through Deutsche Leichtathletik Marketing GmbH (DLM), which is constantly being expanded. This is because demand for merchandise products is high. Michael Mottl explains: “People who are interested in our products are not just looking for a souvenir, they want to be part of the athletics family.”
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Michael Mottl, Managing Director of Deutschen Leichtathletik Marketing GmbH
How GLS solves the logistical challenges of the DLV
A key challenge for the DLV is to combine the various requirements – from time-critical shipments for the national team to the constantly growing e-commerce business – in a single logistics solution.Â
The DLV uses a seamless connection for its existing shop systems and ERP solutions as the technical basis. “The entire integration process with GLS was very professional and solution-oriented from the very beginning. It was particularly valuable that GLS tested various integration solutions and tailored them optimally to our needs,” recalls Michael Mottl.
Thanks to GLS, athletes always receive the relevant equipment – no matter where they are. This also applies to fans who shop in the online store. Services such as the FlexDeliveryService offer the option of having shipments redirected to an alternative address or a nearby GLS Point. “This flexibility is particularly crucial for the national team, so that they can always arrive at World and European Championships with the best equipment,” says Michael Mottl. “Our e-commerce business also benefits enormously: thanks to efficient fulfilment processes and reliable parcel delivery from GLS, we can offer our fans fast and reliable shipping. GLS thus perfectly meets our high quality standards.”
In the dynamic world of e-commerce, every second counts: delays in order processing not only cost time, but also customer satisfaction. Together with our fulfilment partner Versandmanufaktur, GLS offers a fulfilment solution that seamlessly handles your logistics processes in the background – from warehousing and picking to shipping. Our tailor-made fulfilment solutions are specially designed to meet the requirements of modern online retailers: fast, flexible, and reliable. Discover GLS's fulfilment solutions now and free up time for what really matters: your growth.
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Growing with GLS in e-commerce
The German Athletics Association (DLV) considers its online shop to be an important growth driver and link between the association, its athletes, and fans. GLS realizes this connection by shipping the respective items. “With GLS's independent European parcel network, short delivery times, and tailor-made shipping solutions, we can ensure that orders arrive reliably and quickly, even during seasonal peaks. At the same time, GLS is a strategic partner with whom we can implement new ideas and respond to future e-commerce requirements,” says Michael Mottl. His recommendation: “Take advantage of GLS's individual approach and expertise for your business models!”
Inspired by the DLV success story? – Discover how GLS can support your business too. Whether you are a start-up or an established e-commerce company, we offer tailor-made logistics solutions that meet your requirements. Get in touch with us and see for yourself!
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Frequently asked questions about DLV and GLS
Since 2017, GLS has been the main sponsor of the DLV, the world's largest athletics association with over 850,000 members. The partnership includes a presence at competitions, promotion of popular sports, and, in particular, the logistical handling of merchandise items.
GLS offers customized logistics solutions for business customers, including sports associations. These include:
- Personal contact persons
- Express services for time-critical deliveries,
- Return solutions for merchandising products,
- Individual delivery options (e.g., to specific persons or departments).
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GLS is a strong partner for online shop operators. Benefit from our services, such as:
- Live tracking for maximum transparency,
- Customized return solutions tailored to the store concept,
- Flexible delivery options, especially to parcel shops and stations.
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Athletics fans receive their favorite items from the DLV shop reliably and promptly with GLS:
- Free shipping on orders over €65,
- Fast delivery directly to your home or to GLS Points,
- Exclusive fan merchandise such as the DM shirt or the TrueAthletes collection.
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