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Big show at the sports press ball in Frankfurt: on Saturday evening, the German sports scene gathered to celebrate together.
You know them sweaty in jerseys, tracksuits or with protective helmets and masks, but at the sports press ball, German sports stars traditionally dress up. Whether it’s a sparkly evening gown or a refined gown, everyone wants to shine on the red carpet.
It was the same Saturday night at the 40th Sports Press Ball in Frankfurt. There was a lot to see, to whisper and to celebrate at the Alte Oper. And numerous athletes have been awarded.
Athletes celebrate at the Sports Press Ball in Frankfurt
50 years after the Munich Olympic Games, Olympic champions Heide Ecker-Rosendahl (long jump), Ulrike Nasse-Meyfarth (high jump) and Renate Stecher (100/200 meters) have been crowned “Legends of Sport”.
The honorary title “Legend of Sports” has been awarded since 2007, in honor of the sporting life work of outstanding personalities who were also socially or charitably active. Award recipients so far include Gerd Müller (posthumously), Laura Dahlmeier, Magdalena Neuner, Reinhold Messner, Uwe Seeler, Michael Schumacher and Katarina Witt.
We have collected for you the best photos of the evening:
Among the guests was sports presenter Laura Wontorra with her father, the legend of journalist Jörg Wontorra. Laura appeared on the red carpet with a plunging neckline. Coach of the women’s national football team Martina Voss-Tecklenburg was also a guest with her husband Hermann Tecklenburg. The outfit of the national team coach showed her tattoo on her back (see image gallery above).
In the category “Sportsmen with heart”, the players of Eintracht Frankfurt were awarded for their passionate path to triumph in the Europa League. But the Pegasos award also recognized the club for the club’s unequivocal positioning against all forms of racism and anti-Semitism.
“It’s not about individuals, but about tens of thousands of hearts that Eintracht has inspired,” said Ball presenter Gerhard Delling of the award winners. “It is moving to know how many people we have touched in the region,” said Eintracht goalkeeper Kevin Trapp. The team works despite players from many different nations with many languages, which is an essential part of success.
“Cohesion has always been and has always been and is the most important thing,” said Martin Hinteregger, who ended his football career after winning the Europa League with Eintracht. “These are emotions that will last forever. The connection with Eintracht will also remain forever,” said the 30-year-old Austrian.
In the summer of 2022, riots broke out around Hinteregger because he organized a leisure football tournament and wanted to collaborate with FPÖ councilor Heinrich Sickl. Hinteregger later distanced himself from Sickl and any far-right sentiments.
Previous winners in the ‘Sportsman with heart’ category include long jumper Malaika Mihambo, driver Mick Schumacher, athlete Gesa Felicitas Krause, former Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg, former skier Rosi Mittermaier and the German national football team in 2014 and former boxers Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko. (ubo, dpa, sid)