The heart of Hamburg sport is beating particularly loudly these days on the Heiligengeistfeld. A multisport event is celebrating its premiere there until July 10th – from world class to hands-on activities for everyone. The focal point is the “Active City Arena”, a mobile stadium for 1000 spectators. For Hamburg, the two-and-a-half-week event is also a small test for the organization of the German “Finals” and “European Championships”, for which the Hanseatic city wants to apply.
At the start on Thursday, five personalities from Hamburg’s sports were presented in the arena, who will represent the “Active City” as ambassadors and are committed to moving the city: Beach volleyball icon Laura Ludwig, handball giant Johannes Bitter, football maker Patrick “Coach” Esume, HSV President Marcel Jansen and Paralympic winner Edina Müller, who was unable to be there.
The chosen ones are identification figures, “successful, sympathetic, with enormous notoriety,” emphasizes sports and interior senator Andy Grote. The appointment of further ambassadors is possible, he confirmed to MOPO.
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“I hope that I can inspire and motivate,” says Ludwig. The Olympic champion, who became a mother for the second time in May, is aiming for an Olympic start in 2024. “I want to try it.”
Bitter was won over by the long-term Active City concept. “I quickly realized that it was not a project for one year, but for the next ten, 20 or maybe 100 years – namely to move the whole city.”
Hamburg would like to apply for the “Finals”.
For the genuine Hamburger Jung’ Esume it is a “great honor” to have been selected as an ambassador. “I came here to get involved.”
Wilco Nijland is in charge of the 18-day event. The Dutchman is the head of the “King of the Court” beach volleyball format, which is kicking off in the new arena. This is followed by a German tour beach volleyball tournament, air badminton and a top-class international 3×3 basketball tournament on a floor laid over the sand, as well as a large table tennis event. On some days, the arena is open to everyone in the city for hands-on offers (information on all dates, tickets, etc. at www.activecityarena.de).
The total budget for the event is 2.5 million euros. Four fifths are financed by sponsors and ticket sales for the top events. The city is contributing 500,000 euros.
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Hamburg is also positioning itself for the application for the “Finals”. At this event, German championships in various sports are held at the same time in one place – currently in Berlin. “We’re interested,” says Grote. The larger “European Championships” are also an issue.
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