Chancellor Angela Merkel, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), is campaigning to be re-elected for a fourth term in office on September 24. 

Her main rival is Social Democrat Martin Schulz, the former President of the European Parliament.

Hörmann reached out to the country's sporting community, asking them to "shape the future" of Germany.

"Dear athletes, with around 27 million members in over 90,000 sports clubs, sport is the largest civil society community in our country,"  he wrote.

"In our club's daily movement health, performance, inclusion and integration and many other values are lived.

"Many of you are committed to volunteering and take on social responsibility.

"You can do this by exercising your right to vote at the election.

"Let us take the opportunity to protect our shared values and actively shape the future of our country."

Polls currently show that the CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), will be the largest party after the Bundestag election, but they will fall short of a majority.

Merkel visited the country's Olympic and Paralympic Training Center, located in Kienbaum in Brandenburg last month.

She visited the site's new buildings and various training facilities, and also spoke with a number of athletes.

Athletes the Chancellor spoke with included canoeists Sebastian Brendel, Tina Dietze, Franziska Weber and Max Rendschmidt, 

Discus throwers Julia and Robert Harting, archer Lisa Unruh and retired swimmer Roland Matthes also met with Merkel.