Daily Blog Day 7: Sport and connections

Right on time for the start of the week, two new sports have got underway: athletics and beach volleyball have entered the spotlight. Competitions will run until the coming weekend at the Dreieckswiese in Sportpark Duisburg Wedau and the fully renovated, newly reopened Lohrheidestadion in Bochum Wattenscheid. Spectators can look forward to thrilling duels and top-class events – whether on the track, in the air, or in the sand!

At Messe Essen, three-time Wimbledon champion and Olympic gold medallist Boris Becker took part in a live talk, sharing insights into the mental challenges he faced throughout his career. Afterwards, athletes had the chance to engage with him in a more personal exchange.

Both the Park Festival and the Beach Festival are offering visitors a summery and musical atmosphere. In Essen, Glockenbach and DJ Alle Farben got the crowd dancing. Throughout the week, exciting festival programmes will continue in both Duisburg and Essen.

Germany’s divers secured their expected medal on Monday, with Lena Hentschel taking bronze in the 3-metre springboard event. Things didn’t go so well for the German volleyball teams: the men were defeated 0:3 by Japan in their quarter-final, while the women lost their semi-final against Italy, also 0:3.

Björn Kammann was the fastest in his 100-metre butterfly semi-final, though he wasn’t entirely satisfied: “It was very close, and I wish I’d made it a bit less tense. Tomorrow’s final at 7 PM is definitely going to be a thrilling race.”

Today's blog post comes from none other than a professional athlete herself:

Sometimes it’s not so bad being a pro athlete – for instance, when you’re invited to speak at an international sports conference and get a behind-the-scenes look at how it all works. That’s exactly what I experienced at the World Conference in Bochum – and what can I say? It was brilliant!

I gave a talk on mental health in high-performance sport (yes, it got serious at times), but more than anything, I felt one thing: sport is about so much more than performance. It’s about connection, community, family – and quite a lot of organisation, as I found out during my brief backstage experience. Who would have thought a competition day and a tightly scheduled event plan have so much in common? Both require timing, coordination, and strong nerves.

One of the best parts was seeing so many incredible female athletes in their element – strong, focused, passionate. Each with her own unique story. Some I had the chance to hear, others I simply watched in awe. That feeling, standing among so much power, ambition, and team spirit – it gives you goosebumps.

And despite all the different nationalities, disciplines, and personalities, there was this special, family-like atmosphere – something you can’t plan. It just happens when people with heart and purpose come together. That’s exactly why I love sport: it connects across borders, creates understanding and respect – and sometimes even new friendships.

I’m deeply grateful for this experience – for the stage, the conversations, the honest moments – and for the tasty snacks and lovely chats with former colleagues, full of laughter, reflection, and networking.

I’m already looking forward to the next events in the Rhine-Ruhr region – or wherever sport, mental health, and real human connections are in focus. These are the places where truly great things begin.

In Duisburg, Tim Baldus and Stina Holmquist will perform at the Dreieckswiese. At the Park Festival, a DJ session will set the mood, followed by the European Outdoor Film Tour screening at 8 PM. On Tuesday, artistic gymnastics and archery will be added to the programme. In total, 20 medal events are expected across the six host cities.