Leipzig is gearing up for a sports festival of superlatives: in three weeks' time (May 28), the International German Gymnastics Festival will kick off in the trade fair city, with 80,000 athletes and up to 750,000 guests expected. The emergency services, security and safety authorities are well prepared, as the city announced. According to the statement, the experience of last year's European Football Championships also played a role in the preparations.
The gymnastics festival offers encounters with many happy people in many places, who can celebrate the diversity of sport together and cheer on the athletes at the numerous venues, said Leipzig's Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung. "The safety of the athletes and guests will be ensured," promised the SPD politician. "Together with the city of Leipzig, the fire department and the federal police, we will be on duty at this major event to ensure that everyone has a peaceful and great time in the city of sport," added Leipzig's police chief René Demmler.
According to the organizers, the International German Gymnastics Festival is one of the largest mass sports events in the world. It looks back on a long tradition: Leipzig hosted the third General German Gymnastics Festival back in 1863. In 2025, the city will host the gymnastics festival for the 13th time. The European Gymnastics Championships will also be held in Leipzig at the same time.
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