Description
Hamburg has always been regarded as a European sports city steeped in tradition. Its inhabitants are on the one hand enthusiastic spectators at major sport events and are at the same time highly active participants in popular sport. This is clearly demonstrated by the membership in the Betriebssportverband Hamburg (Company Sport Association), which has 60,000 members belonging to some 460 company clubs and is one of the largest of its kind in Germany. After 1981 Hamburg is now hosting the EFCS European Company Sport Summer Games for the second time. I m very pleased about this, since it reflects confidence in our sport enthusiasm, organisational talent and above all our hospitality.
During the European Company Sport Games 2011 up to 8,000 participants from over 20 European countries will be competing over a five day period in not only Olympic disciplines such as basketball, handball, shooting and swimming, but also non-Olympic disciplines such as bowling and golf. The Hamburg Exhibition Halls have been well chosen as the central meeting centre and will minimise travelling for participants, despite the overall dimension of the Games. The Hamburg Company Sport Association will be in charge of the organisation of the Games. It will once again prove that that our city possesses sufficient professional skill, creativity and passion for sport to successfully organise sport events of this magnitude.
I have gladly taken on the patronage for the 2011 Games, since it is a unifying event, involving Hamburg inhabitants in a special manner: members of numerous Hamburg company sports clubs will not only compete, but also act as voluntary helpers to guarantee the success of the Games. I would already like to heartily thank all involved.
In accordance with the idea of company sport to promote cooperation and social contact rather than break records, I would like to wish all foreign guests and Hamburg inhabitants an unforgettable stay in our beautiful city.
First Mayor
Ole von Beust
