Berlin
Welcome to Berlin, the Capital of Sport
More sports. More diversity. More Berlin.
Berlin is Germany’s No. 1 sporting city, whether you’re an active participant or a spectator: with over 781,295 sports club members, 2,300 sports clubs and 164 first and second division clubs, Berlin’s sport scene is just as lively and energetic as the capital itself. Berlin also has an incredibly diverse range of top-of-class sports, including the six professional clubs 1. FC Union Berlin, ALBA BERLIN, Berlin Recycling Volleys, Eisbären Berlin, Füchse Berlin and Hertha BSC, as well as countless recreational and popular sports available through clubs and a wide range of sports programmes. For most people, the name Berlin is instantly associated with major international sporting events, such as European and world championships in a wide variety of sports, like the Special Olympics World Games, the European Handball Championships, the UEFA EURO, the WTA Berlin Ladies Open and the Laver Cup. And let’s not forget the many annual events like the Berlin Six-Day Race, the DFB Cup Final, the ISTAF, the E-Prix and the BMW BERLIN-MARATHON which attract audiences from around the world.
Together with a network of sports facilities, stadiums and competition venues that are owned by the city and cater to an incredible breadth of sports, plus sporting landmarks such as the Olympiastadion Berlin, the Uber Arena, the Velodrom, the Max-Schmeling-Halle and the Stadion an der Alten Försterei, the Capital of Sport boasts an unrivalled sporting infrastructure. Berlin offers pure quality of life and is a special experience for all sport fans!
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Governing Mayor
5 Highlights
in Berlin
SPORTS CLUBS
More than 780,000 Berliners are members of a sports club. In its 75th year, the Landessportbund (LSB) Berlin proudly announced that it has 781,295 memberships, which is a new record and a 7.08 per cent increase on the previous year. This trend clearly illustrates the desire for sport, performance, exercise and health and sharing the joy of movement as part of a community.
SPORTS VENUES
More people can fit into Berlin’s five biggest sports venues than the entire population of Schwerin: over 137,000. Top of the list is, of course, the iconic Olympiapark and the Olympiastadion Berlin (74,475 seats), a historic stadium and the venue for Hertha BSC’s home matches. The Stadion an der Alten Försterei (22,012 seats) is a popular football stadium and home to 1. FC Union Berlin. The Uber Arena (17,000 seats) is where the Eisbären Berlin and ALBA BERLIN play their home games. The Velodrom (12,000 seats) with its cycling track is the traditional venue for the Berlin Six-Day Race. The Max-Schmeling-Halle (11,900 seats) is home to Füchse Berlin and BR Volleys. International competitions are regularly held at the swimming and diving pool at the Europasportpark.
50 YEARS OF BMW BERLIN MARATHON: ONE OF THE BIGGEST RUNNING EVENTS IN THE WORLD
The BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2023 was one of the biggest marathons in the world, attracting nearly 48,000 contestants from more than 150 countries. The route takes runners past landmarks such as the Victory Column, the Memorial Church and the Brandenburg Gate. The event is held every year at the end of September and in 2024 will be celebrating its 50th anniversary!
SPECIAL OLYMPICS WORLD GAMES BERLIN 2023: AN INCLUSIVE SPORTING EVENT.
In June 2023, Berlin hosted 6,500 athletes with intellectual and multiple disabilities from over 180 countries. The athletes were supported by around 18,000 volunteers. The competitions in 26 disciplines celebrated sporting enthusiasm, togetherness and inclusion. The German team won over 150 medals.
EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP 2024 IN BERLIN
Berlin was one of the ten German cities that hosted UEFA EURO 2024. Five matches in the competition and the final on 14 July took place at the Olympiastadium. More than a million football fans from all over the world experienced the thrill of the four-week football spectacle with public screens, fan miles and a joyous summer celebration of football culture in the capital.
BERLIN, THE CAPITAL OF SPORT, AT THE FESTIVAL OF UNITY
We’re bringing the exuberance of #SPORTMETROPOLE to Schwerin for everyone to experience. On the grass pitch at the Berlin stand (Land 11) visitors are invited to play football, table tennis and basketball, watch stunts performed by cheerleaders from Berlin, try their hand at fencing and take part in fitness classes. Meet Berlin’s popular mascots, get an autograph from Berlin’s Olympic and Paralympic athletes, and snap your personal souvenir photo. The sports programme will be complemented by a healthy choice of snacks, speciality coffees and sweet treats; the soundtrack comes courtesy of cool Berlin DJ sets.
Come and visit us! You’ll find us on Graf-Schack-Allee on the Schloß car park between the city centre and Uferweg close to the Victory Column and the main stage.
FOR GERMAN UNITY DAY 2024:
THE GOVERNING MAYOR OF BERLIN
Kai Wegner
“Berlin is Germany’s number one sports capital, as is proved by the numerous top events that take place here, including the European Football Championships, the Berlin Marathon, Formula E and the EuroLeague Final Four in basketball to name but a few. Even down a couple of leagues, Berlin shines with its sports offerings. More than 780,000 Berliners are members of a sports club. Nowhere else in Germany is access to sporting activities as easy and attractive as in the capital. This is also reflected in the truly impressive youth work in sport, which achieves remarkable things for integration. Sport keeps you healthy, makes you happy and brings people together – which is why we celebrate sport in Berlin and are incredibly proud of the city’s success in both elite and popular sports.”
Kai Wegner
Governing Mayor of Berlin