Sporting highlights
2015 marks the 1000th anniversary of Leipzig's first documented mention. It's also a bumper year for sporting events. Top highlights include:
The men's and women's Indoor Hockey World Cup: The fourth Indoor Hockey World Cup takes place on 4-8 February in ARENA Leipzig. The local organiser is ATV Leipzig 1845, Leipzig's oldest sports club and a cornerstone of local and national sports history.
The Canoe Slalom European Championship takes place on 26-31 May at the Markkleeberger See.
The qualifying match for UEFA Euro 2016: The qualifying match for UEFA Euro 2016 between Germany and Georgia takes place on 11 October in the Red Bull Arena. By holding the match in Leipzig, the German Football Association marks its gratitude to the city where it was founded and celebrates the city's 1000th anniversary.
The 39th Leipzig Marathon on 19 April.
Sport - the past, present and future of our city
"Sport plays a vital role in the history of our city - the Leipziger Schützengesellschaft was founded as far back as 1443, for example," says City of Leipzig Deputy Mayor for Sports, Heiko Rosenthal. "The quality and diversity of the events taking place in this, our anniversary year, prove that sport is equally a part of the past, present and future of our city. With the Red Bull Arena, ARENA Leipzig in the Sports Forum and the Markkleeberg Canoe Park, as well as the development of Leipzig New Lakeland, the city will continue to offer excellent facilities for top national and international events in 2015." Each year the city subsidises around 100 different competitions, championships and regular events organized by sports clubs and associations. A total of EUR 130,000 will be spent on subsidies in the coming year.
Key sports events in 2015
The city is also hosting the following popular sports events in 2015:
- 39th Stadtwerke Leipzig Marathon (19 April)
- Finswimming World Cup (24-26 April)
- German Fencing Championship (16-17 May)
- 12th Neuseen Classics (17 May)
- 22nd Sparkassen Lipsiade (12-14 June)
- Sparkassen Landesjugendspiele, state youth games (3-5 July)
- 32nd LVB Triathlon (26 July)
- Leipzig Open 2015, international tennis competition (August)
More on 2015 sporting highlights
Brochure "Sporthöhepunkte 2015" (available from Citizen Centres, sports halls and the Stadtsportbund Leipzig)
Online at www.leipzig.de/sport and www.ssb-leipzig.de