On Sunday, the European Championships in beach volleyball, canoe sprint, climbing, athletics, cycling, rowing, table tennis, triathlon and gymnastics ended with another haul of medals for the German team.

Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, whose ministry is also responsible for sport-related issues, congratulated the German athletes: “Eleven days of top-notch athletic performances and an impressive total of 60 medals for the German team. My wholehearted congratulations go to our athletes. The European Championships in Munich were a huge success and a celebration of sport for everyone. I also applaud the City of Munich for being such a great host.”

Winning 26 gold medals, 20 silver medals and 14 bronze medals, Germany’s athletes took the top spot in the medal table. The second half of the European Championships gave us even more goosebumps, tears of joy and reasons to cheer.

Highlights of the European Championships

Over the past 11 days, we have witnessed world-class athletic performances. The European Championships were also a celebration for thousands of spectators who followed the 177 competitions with gushing enthusiasm.

The free cultural programme accompanying the Championships created connections beyond sport. Including the Para competitions in rowing and canoe sets an example for other events and helps break down barriers.

During the final press conference on Sunday, Parliamentary State Secretary Mahmut Özdemir emphasised that large-scale sporting events can send an important message for diversity and inclusion, taking a stance against racism and exclusion.

For the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community, the European Championships were the first in a series of large-scale sporting events in the coming years, each addressing a different social issue through sport. The next big event will be the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin, bringing together athletes with intellectual disabilities from around the globe. In 2024, ten German cities will host the European Football Championships, and in 2025, we will welcome international student athletes to the FISU World University Games in the Rhine-Ruhr region.