Big gymnastics in Leipzig: 80,000 participants celebrate sports and cohesion!

Big gymnastics in Leipzig: 80,000 participants celebrate sports and cohesion!

Leipzig, Deutschland - The International German Gymnastics Festival was heralded on May 28, 2025 in Leipzig with an impressive opening ceremony. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who took over the patronage of the event, expressed the wish that the gymnastics festival send a signal of strength, fairness and cohesion. This sporting event will last and include a variety of competitions, demonstrations and shows in different sports until Sunday, June 1, 2025. Around 80,000 participants from all parts of Germany have traveled, with almost 50,000 of them registered for competitions. This high number of participants is reminiscent of the fact that the event is one of the largest popular sports events worldwide.

Leipzig has a long tradition as a venue for gymnastics; Finally, the third general German gymnastics festival took place here in 1863. 2025 is already the 13th edition in this city. Ten German championships are held at this event. Sports such as aerobic gymnastics, gymnastics, dance, sports acrobatics, fistball, trampoline gymnastics and rope skipping are among the highlights of the program. In parallel to the gymnastics festival, the European Gymnastics Championships take place in the city, with competitions that are organized in the new Messe Leipzig.

variety and cohesion

Until the registration deadline on March 3, 2025, a total of 49,853 participants registered. The organization team pursues the goal of reaching the number of 80,000 participants. Kati Brenner, managing director of the organizational committee, has emphasized the importance of diversity and cohesion that distinguishes this event. Another aspect of the European Gymnastics Championships is the first time a mixed team final, which is a new and exciting competition.

So far, 23,500 tickets have been sold for the European Championships. A total of 346 active people from 38 nations take part in this - including 146 gymnasts and 177 gymnasts. The ticket sales are encouraging for the competitions for the Turn-European Championship and attract both local and international spectators.

sustainability in sport

In an emerging trend of the sporting events, the gymnastics festival also takes place as part of an initiative that deals with sustainable sports events in Germany. This joint project, which was launched on November 28, 2022, aims to develop standards and recommendations for the orientation of sporting events and value the ecological, social and economic dimensions of sustainability. The project is organized by various institutions, including the Federal Ministry of the Interior and for Home as well as the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Security and Consumer Protection.

The project management lies in the hands of experts like Prof. Dr. Ralf Roth and Dr. Stefan Walzel, who promote cooperation between sport, science and politics. Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser emphasizes how important these standards are for compliance with sustainability requirements and supports the idea that the event should not only offer sporting but also social added value.

The gymnastics festival in Leipzig not only promises top sporting performance, but also sets a sign of fair and sustainable use in sport.