Frankfurtis famous for many things and sport is definitely one of them. The metropolis on River Main serves as the home base of some of the country’s foremost sports associations, including the German Olympic Sports Confederation, the German Gymnastics Federation and the German Football Association. Frankfurt also hosts a number of large-scale international sporting events every year.
The three biggest are the 'Around the Finance Centre of Eschborn-Frankfurt' professional cycling race, the Frankfurt Marathon and the Ironman European Championship Frankfurt.
Athletes who are not quite ready to tackle the Ironman, the most challenging of all triathlon competitions, can try their luck at the Frankfurt City Triathlon, to be held on August 7, which is just a little easier on its participants.
SPECIAL SPORTS
The German Down Sports Festival is the world’s largest sports carnival for people with Down’s syndrome, open to athletes of all ages. This year’s event, held on June 4, will have more than 600 athletes meeting at the Frankfurt-Kahlbach Sports and Recreation Centre, where they will compete in a variety of disciplines. A particularly special event for families is the 'Siblings Olympics', which has brothers and sisters teaming up to jointly complete a challenging 'obstacle course'.
Another sports spectacle, which took place at Frankfurt’s Ice Sports Arena ('Eissporthalle') in June, is the PDC World Cup of Darts.
Frankfurt naturally also has countless opportunities for recreational athletes. Choices include, among many others, climbing and bouldering at the T-Hall climbing arena, ice skating at the Ice Sports Arena, tennis or squash at one of the city’s many racquet clubs or golf at one of the scenic courses set along the fringe of Frankfurt.
SPORTS AND SIGHTSEEING
Another sporting possibility, particularly for visitors, is to combine a sports programme with a guided city tour. During summer, inline skaters begin their Tuesday Night Skating (TNS) tour of the city at Harbour Park in Frankfurt’s East End district. Anyone is welcome to join.
There’s now also a TNS 'Light' Tour, the length, course and speed of which being much tamer than the original and therefore ideal for newcomers or those coming off a longer break. Regardless of which you choose, the tours are definitely a great way to discover the city.
Another method of combining sightseeing and fitness training is the so-called 'sight-jogging'. Here, trained guides lead participants on a jog past a variety of famous Frankfurt sights. These guided runs are held at various times of the day, including early in the morning and late at night. Unique views of the skyline, meanwhile, are guaranteed during a stand-up paddling tour on the River Main. Introductory courses, tours and all necessary equipment may be booked with Sensosports or Windsurfing Rhein-Main.