© dpa
The sporting metropolis of Berlin will continue to spread sporting splendour in the capital in the new season.
After hosting five games of the European Football Championship plus the final, the European Handball Championship, the Final Four of the Basketball Euroleague and Formula E, the new sporting season begins with the 50th Berlin Marathon.
‘The UEFA EURO 2024 with the final in Berlin as well as the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Paris have impressively demonstrated this year that European metropolises are ideally suited for major sporting events,’ said Governing Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) at the season launch of the “Initiative Sportmetropole Berlin” in Berlin's Olympic Stadium.
‘Berlin is a sports metropolis where young and old, amateurs and professionals, amateur and elite athletes pursue their passion. And they do so every day.’ Founded in 2009, the initiative is an association of the most important decision-makers in sport and business. Stefan Franzke, Managing Director of Berlin Partner, described sport and its major events as a ‘decisive economic driver for Berlin’, which also sets ‘strong signals for cohesion, peace, equality, fairness and inclusion every year’.
In view of the renewed staging of major sporting events, a possible bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games with Berlin as one of the host cities also took centre stage in front of the guests from the worlds of sport, politics, business and culture. Iris Spranger, Senator for the Interior and Sport, once again spoke in favour of a bid by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB): ‘This sporting year shows once again that Berlin is capable of hosting major international events. I am certain that the sporting metropolis of Berlin is also ideally suited as a venue for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and will play a central role in a possible national bid by the DOSB.’
Thomas Härtel, President of the Landessportbund Berlin (LSB), sees great opportunities for the whole of sport in the bid. ‘There are also many strong ideas in Germany and here in Berlin to achieve more for sport with the Games,’ he said. ‘With the experience from many major sporting events, the existing infrastructure, a wonderful audience and so many committed sportspeople, Berlin can organise very special Games.’