Sports | Olympics Germany Revives Schools to Turn Out Olympians Return to East German model to restore Olympic glory By Matt Cantor Posted Aug 2, 2008 9:10 AM CDT Copied Germany's volleyball team celebrates after winning the men's volleyball world final qualification tournament for the Beijing Olympics in Duesseldorf, western Germany, Sunday, May 25, 2008. (AP Photo/Rene Tillmann) Concerned over its sixth-place overall finish in the Athens Olympics, Germany is taking steps to centralize its athletic training program in a move reminiscent of the notorious East German training machine, the Wall Street Journal reports. In a country where membership in local sports clubs is the norm for athletes, the government is lavishly funding sport-focused schools offering a solid shot at gold. East Germany’s sporting-school system, associated with ruthless training and steroids, was dropped after the country’s unification. But Germany, which boasts the second-highest number of total gold medals, has seen its Olympic ranking slip over the past few Games. Now, following the lead of countries like Australia and Japan, it is supporting a renaissance of centralized support for sport—without the steroids. Read These Next Mid That 'buy now, pay later' loan may soon hit your credit score. Cops: Arizona 5th graders drew up plot to 'end' a classmate. The Bezos-Sanchez wedding: guest list, cost, the dress, and more. Report an error