Football events in summer: fans celebrate diversity and common ground

Football events in summer: fans celebrate diversity and common ground

St Pauli, Deutschland - In Germany there is a lively fan scene that does not disappear from the scene even during the summer break. As fascination of fankurve , numerous tournaments and events took place, which were organized by fan scenes of different clubs. Above all, the fan gradations of FC St. Pauli, Dynamo Dresden, Eintracht Frankfurt, VfL Bochum and many more have come together.

A highlight of the summer months was the annual anti-shaped tournament, which was organized by Ultras Sankt Pauli on the last weekend in May. Participating fans and teams not only came from Germany, but also from abroad-including Ultras from Sampdoria Genoa from Italy, Olympique Marseille from France and Hapoel Tel-Aviv from Israel. The events not only included sporting competitions, but also informative lectures on relevant sociopolitical issues, such as state repression against football fans and the situation of anti -fascists in Hungary

cultural exchange and networking

The program of the anti-shaped tournament was diverse. On Friday, May 30th, the participants started with a German and English-language harbor tour that highlighted the Nazi history and forced labor in the port of Hamburg. In the evening there was a discussion event in Knust, at which guests from Hamburg, Bremen, Jena, Marseille and Tel Aviv exchanged their experiences. Moderated by Vice President Luise Gottberg, it was all about working with authoritarian states in law enforcement.

like FC St. Pauli further reported with a big celebration in the Millernor-Stadion, where after exciting games, the creative achievements of the participants were appreciated. Over 2000 visitors took the opportunity to exchange ideas, play with each other and celebrate together.

A look at racism in football

Despite the positive aspects of the football experience, the dark side is also illuminated. A current study published on Deutschlandfunk shows clear signs of right-wing extremists among club members. Around 8% of the respondents represent racist opinions. Therefore, football associations are increasingly investing in campaigns against discrimination in order to counteract this tendency.

The challenge remains great: While racism and discrimination in society still use, values ​​such as diversity and inclusion are required in football. Experts like Hannes Delto emphasize the need to take racist statements early on and to create role models that stand up for integration.

As the fan scenes in Germany show, football can also be an important platform for combating racism and promoting democracy. The many tournaments and events not only celebrate sporting successes, but also promote a healthy, respectful community that appreciates the value of diversity. The events in Hamburg and elsewhere are a step in the right direction and invite everyone to actively participate in dealing with these topics.