State secret sport - The separation of the competitive sports system in the GDR

The GDR and the FRG not only competed for medals but also fought a battle of ideologies in the olympic arena. Therefore parts of the successful GDR sport system where thoroughly protected almost as a state secret, to prevent an imitation of its sport organization by the "class enemy." Sports complexes and schools were hidden from the public, the press was censored, the academic communication hindered, finally, the doping system was guarded by the Ministry of State Security. On several occasions the Soviet Union complained about the East German mystery-mongering. But at last, the sport system had in the first place become estranged from the public.