The European Championships were officially opened on Wednesday (08/10/2022) in Munich. Tens of thousands of visitors streamed into the 1972 Olympic Park and watched the opening show.
The European Championships in Munich proved to be a magnet for spectators right from the opening. Right from the start, the organizer called on people not to come: “The official opening draws the crowds. The Olympic Park is already overcrowded. We strongly advise against coming.” The park was later closed by the Munich police. The organizers spoke of 55,000 spectators.
The atmospheric opening ceremony was divided into three phases: from “dreamy calm” to “awakening” to “luminous life”. Among others, rapper Marteria and the pop band Sportfreunde Stiller performed, playing the ARD song “Spectacular”.
Biggest sporting event since the 2006 World Cup
The European Championships are the biggest sporting event in Germany since the 2006 World Cup. European Championship medals are awarded in a total of nine Olympic sports. 4,700 athletes will fight for medals in 177 decisions from August 11th to 21st in Munich. 250,000 tickets have been sold so far, and 450,000 visitors are expected. 55,000 spectators fit into the Olympic Stadium.
For the first time, only one city will host this new multisport event. At the premiere of the 2018 European Championships, Glasgow and Berlin shared the competition. Back then, swimming was still part of it. This time it’s athletics, cycling, gymnastics, beach volleyball, triathlon, rowing, canoeing, table tennis and climbing.
The 2022 event in Munich is considered a reminiscence of the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich. In addition to the great enthusiasm for sports under the legendary tent roof of the Olympic Stadium, these games also brought the Bavarian metropolis forward in terms of infrastructure.
And if you look at the crowds on this opening day: The combination of modern sport and traditional sports venues seems to be working.