The Berlin 2018 European Athletics Championships are being leveraged as a massive opportunity to boost sustainability efforts and healthy lifestyles in the German capital.
Branches of the municipal government have teamed with local sports bodies to promote a Berlin-wide sports programme called “Run.Jump.Throw.Berlin.” to raise awareness of Berlin 2018 and encourage Berliners to become more physically active in the run up to, during and after the event from 7-12 August.
Run.Jump.Throw.Berlin. will target people of all age groups and backgrounds, including schoolchildren, families, the elderly, people with disabilities and sports enthusiasts. A diverse programme of activities will include everything from free sports to sustainable development.
The programme is a modern and innovative approach for the sport of athletics to develop new and deeper associations within a local community. Run.Jump.Throw.Berlin. will seek to boost physical activity among the local population, strengthen ties between athletic associations, and make athletics and the benefits of physical activity more visible in the city.
The core objectives of the program are:
• to activate the local population through elements of athletics;
• to anchor athletics in the consciousness of the population by making Berlin 2018 visible throughout the city, including in urban landscapes;
• to use the diversity of athletics and athletes as a means of successful inclusion;
• to promote skills development through athletics; and
• to use Berlin 2018 to create a positive, lasting impression of athletics and added value for local citizens.
By integrating a public sports programme with a major sports event, the government wants to showcase Berlin as an active, sports-loving city that is the perfect host for an array of elite sporting events.
Run.Jump.Throw.Berlin will offer something for everyone, whether new to sport or a lifelong fan/athlete. A proposed “European Mile” fan zone centred on the Breitscheidplatz, a major public square, will showcase the tolerant and cosmopolitan attitude of Berlin alongside an innovative and modern presentation of athletics.
For the first time in 2018, the European Athletics Championships will be part of the inaugural European Championships together with Aquatics, Cycling, Rowing, Gymnastics, Golf and Triathlon. While athletics will take place in Berlin, the other six sports will be hosted in Glasgow from 2-12 August.
With the Berlin 2018 World Para Athletics European Championships scheduled to take place from 20-26 August, it promises to be a summer full of sport in the German capital. And the local government intends get the entire population – with or without disabilities -- running, jumping and throwing along with the elite athletes.