INTERNATIONAL GERMAN GYMNASTICS FESTIVAL 2025 WITH BAILONGBALL PRESENCE
The following article “International Gymnastics Festival – Living German Olympics” was originally written by Wenjuan Zhang and Xiaofei Sui and is translated from Chinese
The most important sporting event in the world in 2024 will be the Summer Olympics. The Paris Olympics has accepted around 10,500 athletes and is a major sporting event. But do you know what the biggest sport and fitness event in the world is?
The answer: the International German Gymnastics Festival (“Internationales Deutsches Turnfest”). Like the Olympic Games, it takes place every four years.
It is not only the core event of the umbrella organization for gymnastics in Germany (DTB), but also an event for gymnastics fans and a dynamic platform for international cultural exchange. The 2017 German Gymnastics Festival in Berlin attracted more than 70,000 participants, including athletes, coaches and sports enthusiasts.
The event is one of the largest gymnastics and mass sports events in the world and includes not only competitive gymnastics, but also cultural performances and fitness experiences for all.
Historical heritage and internationalization
The German Gymnastics Festival is not only a sporting event, but also carries a rich cultural and historical heritage. Since the rise of German gymnastics in 1811, gymnastics has not only been a sport, but also a symbol of German society and the national spirit. The German Gymnastics Festival played an important role in the formation of German unity and national pride in the 19th century and became a carrier of collective identity, as well as an important part of German cultural heritage.
He was born in the 19th century and is known as the “father of German gymnastics”, Friedrich Ludwig Jahn. Germany was in the throes of the Napoleonic Wars, the country divided and national consciousness weak. Jan realized that improving physical fitness not only helped to develop healthy individuals, but also to strengthen the nation’s self-confidence and solidarity. He believed that through gymnastics one could develop physical exercises, character and strengthen patriotic feelings. So in 1811, he founded the first gymnastics ground in the Hasenheide outside Berlin, where young people were offered free sports training grounds.
Jan’s gymnastics quickly spread and became part of nationalism and resistance to foreign rule. During the European revolution of 1848, nationalist sentiment rose in Germany. The first nationwide German Gymnastics Festival (Deutsches Turnfest) took place in Coburg in 1860, many years before the first modern Olympic Games. The following year, the second event was held in Berlin. One of the reasons for this was the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the first German gymnastics ground and the establishment of the memorial to Johann Ludwig Jan, who was known as the “father of gymnastics”. Since then, the German Gymnastics Festival has undergone historical changes and has gradually evolved from a regional sporting event to a major event of its own.
In 1872, the German Gymnastics Federation (DTB) was founded, providing a more professional framework for the organization of the German Gymnastics Festivals. Over time, it also completed its transformation from national to international and internationalization became its core element. It is no longer just a major gymnastics festival in Germany, but an important platform for cross-border cultural exchange. Since 2005, the name “International” has been officially added and stands for a further strengthening of global exchange and cooperation.
The 2017 Berlin International Gymnastics Festival attracted athletes from 33 countries, including some teams from as far away as Argentina and Chile, underlining the global appeal of the event.
The German Gymnastics Festival planned for 2021 in Leipzig was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. As a replacement, the organizers have organized a small multi-sport event called Turnen21, which is intended to continue the spirit of the gymnastics festival while adapting to the special requirements during the epidemic. This adaptation reflects not only the flexible response of the organizers, but also the event’s continuous efforts to promote the culture of fitness and gymnastics for the whole nation.
After the pandemic, the original plan can now be realized – Leipzig will host this sports and cultural festival in 2025.
Core concepts of the German International Gymnastics Festival
Over the course of its long history, the German Gymnastics Festival has formed its core philosophy. The German Gymnastics Festival focuses on nationalizing the sport of gymnastics, encouraging people of different ages and backgrounds to participate in sports and advocating that “gymnastics is a lifestyle”.
The German Gymnastics Festival emphasizes fitness and mass participation and attracts not only professional gymnasts, but also amateurs, families, children and many more. During the event, participants can experience different sports such as gymnastics, rope jumping, fitness, running, etc. and sign up for competitions, performances and workshops. This openness and inclusion makes the German Gymnastics Festival not only an arena for athletes, but a national sports festival that promotes healthy living and community bonding community connection.
The event sets up lectures, workshops, experiential activities on various topics of sports and health to promote public awareness of healthy living. For young people, it is also an opportunity to motivate themselves to participate in sports activities and develop an active lifestyle.
In addition to sport, the German Gymnastics Festival combines elements such as music, art and culture into a comprehensive sports and cultural festival, which takes place at alternate locations in different cities in Germany. Many domestic and foreign tourists are attracted during the event. It therefore also plays a significant role in the tourism of the host cities. Local restaurants, accommodation, transportation and cultural tourism will benefit. The festival offers the city the opportunity to showcase local culture and attract tourists while promoting economic development and social harmony.
Leipzig has hosted the German Gymnastics Festival several times and has extensive experience. This time, after a break of eight years, the event has returned and the joy continues. What surprises will the Leipzig organizers have in store for us? Talking to the organizers, they promised that the big festival in 2025 with its “compact and modern” design will turn the whole city into a vibrant sports stage.
The organizers also plan to offer accommodation in 150 schools to underline their philosophy of sustainable integration into the community. The 2025 Gymnastics Festival will also provide a platform for exchange on global developments in sport through academic lectures and forums.
INTERNATIONAL GERMAN GYMNASTICS FESTIVAL 2025 WITH BAILONGBALL PRESENCE
- Number of Participants 80,000 athletes are expected to take part, including 5,000 from around the world, in addition to around 750,000 spectators.
- Diversification events The event will feature 23 sports, including instrumental gymnastics, artistic gymnastics, trampoline and park parkour, including 10 German championships
- Cultural events Several shows will take place during the event, including an international gymnastics festival party, a city stage and a large stage with 5,000 performe
- Participation of all More than 100 interactive programs offer participants of all ages the opportunity to experience gymnastics training, health lectures and community activities.
We will share more information about the German Gymnastics Festival with you in tweetsAt the same time, as an official partner of the DTB, we are also coordinating the Chinese participation in the German Gymnastics Festival 2025. If you are interested in this event, you can contact us at any time for more information.
German International Gymnastics Festival 2025 Leipzig
China Project manager: Sui Xiaofei, Zhang Wenjuan
