This article covers sport in Hamburg, Germany — its history and role as part of the city's culture, both on a recreational and professional level. Over the last some 125 years, many international tournaments and championships were held here.

The main sports governing body in Hamburg, the Hamburg Sport Federation (Hamburger Sportbund, HSB) represents over 500,000 member in some 780 sport clubs. About 60 teams from Hamburg are playing in German first leagues (Bundesliga), the two best known clubs from Hamburg would be the Hamburger SV and the FC St. Pauli, both men's first teams playing in the German football leagues.

History

Sport in Hamburg has a long and distinguished history. Hamburg sport clubs were instrumental in introducing British sports to Germany, or in some cases the continent as a whole. Next to ball and equestrian sports, water sports play an important role in Hamburg. Some of the founders of the German Football Association (DFB) came from Hamburg. One of the world's oldest rowing clubs is based in Hamburg.

The Vierländer Schützengesellschaft (approximate translation: Vierlande Shooting Club) is one of the oldest still existing organisation in Hamburg. It was established in 1592.[1] In 1830 the Hamburg Chess Club (Hamburger Schachklub, HSK or HSK von 1830) was founded.[2] Der Hamburger Ruder Club[notes 1] was founded in 1836, as one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world. In 1934 it was merged with the Germania Ruder Club (GRC), to form Der Hamburger und Germania Ruder Club (HGRC). The Germania Ruder Club's coxed fours won rowing at the 1900 Summer Olympics in Paris.[3] On 20 January 1900, the FC Association 1893 Hamburg and FC Eintracht Altona were two of 86 founders of the German Football Association.[4] As old as the history of sports clubs in Hamburg, as old is the history of competing and hosting tournaments. The 3rd Chess Olympiad organized by the German Chess Federation took place between 13 and 27 July 1930, in Hamburg.[5] 12 players from the Hamburg Chess Club won the German Team Championship in 1956 and 1958. In 1987 the Hamburg Chess Club were German Cup winner (Pokalsieger).[6]

For the 2006 World Cup the Volksparkstadion became a FIFA World Cup Stadium[7] for five matches, among others the quarter-finals Italy vs. Ukraine on 30 June 2006. Boxing for international titles like the heavyweight championship of the International Boxing Federation in 2003 and 2008 between Tony Thompson and Wladimir Klitschko were held in Hamburg.[8]

In July 2008 the Fourth World University Championship for beach volleyball was held in Hamburg.[9] The Team Hamburg Beijing for the 2008 Summer Olympics consisted of 48 athletes.[10] In 2010 the UEFA Cup final was held at the Volksparkstadion.[11] As of March 2015, Hamburg is in the process of submitting an application to host the 2024 Summer Olympics, a bid supported by the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB).

Professional sport

Professional sport teams

HSV - BFC Dynamo in Berlin in 1982
Hamburg Freezers - Frankfurt in 2006
Hamburg Sea Devils - Frankfurt in 2007

About 60 teams were fighting in German first leagues (Bundesliga) in 2007.[1]

Ball sports

The association football men's team Hamburger SV (HSV), one of the most successful teams in Germany, is a football team in the 2. Bundesliga. HSV is a six time German champion, a three time German cup winner and triumphed in the European cup in 1977 and 1983 and has played in the group stages of the Champions League twice; in 2000–01 and in 2006–07. Additionally, FC St. Pauli is also a 2. Bundesliga football club. The HSV Handball represents Hamburg in the German handball league. Another first league team is NA. Hamburg Volleyball.

Hamburg Blue Devils was one of the prominent American Football teams playing in German Football League before its exit in 2017.[12] Hamburg Sea Devils is a team of European League of Football (ELF) which is a planned professional league, that is set to become the first league in Europe since the demise of NFL Europe.[13] The Sea Devils will start playing games in June 2021.[14]

The FC St. Pauli dominates women's Rugby in Germany. Hamburg is home to the Hamburg Dockers, an Australian rules football club.[15]

There is a football club Polonia Hamburg for the Polish diaspora in the city.[16]

Baseball and Softball

The HSV Stealers play first division Baseball as well as the Hamburg Knights do so in Softball.[17][18]

Basketball

The BCJ Hamburg played in the Basketball Bundesliga from 1999 to 2001. Later, the Hamburg Towers became the city's prime team. The Towers promoted to Germany's top division in 2019. In 2022, they already reached the playoffs. The Towers play their home games at the Edel-optics.de Arena in Wilhelmsburg.

Chess

One of the world top chess players comes from the Hamburg Chess Club and is playing in the Chess Bundesliga, the Grand Master Jan Gustafsson was in the Top 100 Players list on rank 85 in April 2005.[19][20]

Cricket and lacrosse

There are also several minority sports clubs, surprisingly Hamburg has four cricket clubs, THCC Rot-Gelb (Alster CC), Pak Alemi CC, Hamburg International CC and HSV Cricket.[21] HSV Cricket is playing in the league of the North German Cricket Federation and won several first places.[22] There is also the lacrosse team Hamburg Warriors at the Harvestehuder Tennis- und Hockey-Club (HTHC).[23]

Field hockey

Hamburg is the nation's hockey capital and dominates the men's as well as the women's Bundesliga with teams like Der Club an der Alster, Großflottbeker THGC, Klipper THC, Hamburger Polo Club Harvestehuder THC or Uhlenhorster HC.

Icehockey

The Hamburg Freezers represented Hamburg in the highest ice hockey league in Germany.

Polo

The women team Polo Ladies from the Hamburg Polo Club plays also in one of the German first or second leagues.[24] In 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 the men's team won the high goal class of the German Polo Championship.[25]

Sport venues and facilities

Sport in Hamburg is located in Hamburg
Volkspark
Volkspark
Klein Flottbek
Klein Flottbek
Rothenbaum
Rothenbaum
Dulsberg
Dulsberg
Horn
Horn
Allermöhe
Allermöhe
Major sport venues and facilities in Hamburg
The Volksparkstadion (Imtech Arena) at Altona Volkspark in Bahrenfeld

The Centre Court of Tennis Stadium Am Rothenbaum has a capacity of 13,200 people and is the largest tennis venue in Germany.[26]

Most of the sports stadiums can be used as music concert venues and for other events too. The FC St. Pauli play at the Millerntor-Stadion in the St. Pauli quarter near the infamous Reeperbahn. The Volksparkstadion,[notes 2] (seats 50,000 [27]) home to the Hamburger SV, was a venue for Bruce Springsteen's Magic Tour. Hamburg Freezers and HSV Handball play at O2 World, formerly known as Color Line Arena. The Alsterschwimmhalle is Hamburg's largest aquatic center, completed in 1973[28] and used for swimming events.

VenueLocationMax. audience
VolksparkstadionBahrenfeld57,300
Horn Racecourse (Rennbahn)Horn50,000
BilltalstadionBergedorf30,000
Millerntor-StadionSt. Pauli29,600
O2 WorldBahrenfeld13,800
Am RothenbaumRotherbaum13,200
Stadion HoheluftEppendorf11,000
Jahn-Arena (Kampfbahn)Winterhude8,000
Adolf-Jäger-Arena (Kampfbahn)Ottensen8,000
SporthalleWinterhude7,000
eVendi ArenaAltona-Nord6,100
Klein Flottbek Derby ParkNienstedten4,500
InselparkhalleWilhelmsburg3,400
Wolfgang-Meyer-Sportground (Sportanlage)Stellingen2,400
Bahrenfeld Racecourse (Trabrennbahn)Bahrenfeld ?
Stellingen Velodrome (Radrennbahn)Stellingen ?
Volksbank ArenaBahrenfeld900

Dulsberg is the location of one of Germany's largest Olympic Training Centers (Olympiastützpunkt or OSP),[29] while there are also other training facilities in Allermöhe and the wider Hamburg Metropolitan Region.

Sport events

Regular sport events

Deutsches Derby, 2011
Vattenfall Cyclassics, 2011

Hamburg hosts equestrian events at Klein Flottbek Derby Park (Deutsches Derby in jumping and dressage) and Horn Racecourse (Deutsches Derby in flat racing).[30] The Berenberg Polo Derby is medium goal polo tournament, hosted by the German Polo Federation. Since 1979 the derby is held almost annually at the Hamburger Polo Club in Klein Flottbek.[31]

The Hamburg Marathon is Germany's largest marathon after Berlin. In 2008, 23,230 participants were registered.[32]

Worldcups in cycling, the UCI ProTour competition Vattenfall Cyclassics, and the ITU Triathlon Worldcup known as Hamburg City Man are also major events in Hamburg.[33] Both events have an all comers´ race.

EventLocationSince
Deutsches DerbyHorn1869
German Open Tennis ChampionshipsRothenbaum1892
Berenberg Polo DerbyKlein Flottbek1906
Deutsches Spring- und DressurderbyKlein Flottbek1920
Hamburg Marathonthroughout Hamburg1986
Hamburg Half Marathonthroughout Hamburg1995
Vattenfall Cyclassicsthroughout Hamburg1996
German Masters (curling)Curling Club Hamburg2012

In 2008 the German Tennis Federation (DTB) and the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) were divided about the status of the Hamburg Masters tournament as part of the ATP Masters Series.[34][35]

The field hockey Hamburg Masters were held as a four-nation tournament.[36]

Other national or international sport events

EventYear
European Figure Skating Championships1891
German Gymnastics Festival1898
German Athletics Championships1898
German Athletics Championships1900
German Athletics Championships1901
German Athletics Championships1902
German Athletics Championships1903
World Shooting Championships1909
German Athletics Championships1921
Chess Olympiad1930
Women's World Chess Championship1930
German Gymnastics Festival1953
German Athletics Championships1954
German Badminton Championships1958
German Athletics Championships1962
European Karate Championships1970
EventYear
German Athletics Championships1977
German Swimming Championships1977
World Fencing Championships1978
German Athletics Championships1989
Men's European Volleyball Championship1991
German Swimming Championships1991
German Gymnastics Festival1994
German Swimming Championships1998
German Swimming Championships2003
Triathlon World Championships2007
European Polo Championships2008
European Beach Volleyball Championships2008
U17 World Basketball Championships2010
World Rowing Cup (II)2011
Sprint Distance Triathlon World Championships2013
Sprint Distance Triathlon World Championships2014

Non professional sport

Non professional or recreational sports in clubs is represented by several associations. The Hamburg Sport Federation (Hamburger Sportbund, HSB) is the umbrella organisation for all sports clubs in Hamburg. Existing since 1945, in 2007 the HSB represented 502,571 member in 780 clubs [1] with 53 sports associations.[37] The Association for Gymnastics (Verband für Turnen und Freizeit (VTF) ) has more than 100,000 members, followed by the Association for Football (soccer) (Hamburger Fussballbund (HFB) ). Members of the HFB are among others the Hamburger SV with more than 40,000 and the FC St. Pauli with more than 6,000 members.[1]

There is also a wide array of student and school sport.

Figures of the sports associations in the HSB[38]
Association for 1985 1990 2004 2005 2006 2007
Gymnastics 82,040 81,339 129,362 129,955 133,768 138,208
Football (soccer) 46,261 40,368 70,134 73,285 79,918 96,032
Tennis 37,674 38,986 32,220 30,724 28,308 27,982
Sailing 10,940 11,636 12,029 12,173 11,979 11,896
Swimming 14,097 12,687 11,061 10,717 10,733 10,068
Handball 14,744 11,885 9,383 9,725 9,510 9,171
Hockey[notes 3] 5,513 5,805 8,391 8,695 8,021 8,001
Horseback riding and vaulting 6,490 5,892 8,287 8,231 7,819 7,703
Golfing (extraordinary members) n n 7,720 8,099 8,350 8,752
Golfing (ordinary members) 5,251 6,699 7,965 8,111 8,334 7,614
Volleyball 9,391 9,984 6,592 6,405 6,426 6,375
Dancing 9,848 10,114 6,522 6,507 6,254 6,171
Basketball 3,403 4,717 5,575 5,588 5,789 6,017
Table tennis 8,626 8,825 6,115 5,999 5,955 5,783
Angling (Recreational) 8,836 8,041 7,324 7,124 6,834 5,204
Rowing 4,391 4,675 4,942 4,956 5,075 5,110
Judo 5,337 6,501 5,199 5,361 5,293 5,027
Shooting 6,625 6,615 5,232 5,107 4,983 4,841
Track and field athletics 6,312 5,172 4,520 4,551 4,672 4,770
Mountaineering and rock climbing n n 768 917 2,389 4,252
Canoeing 3,082 3,061 3,632 3,671 3,537 3,505
Sports for the disabled 1,435 2,138 2,634 2,406 2,639 3,003
Badminton 3,144 3,557 2,992 2,788 2,742 2,653
Karate 1,763 2,861 2,817 2,821 2,585 2,515
Chess 2,663 2,753 2,468 2,437 2,491 2,401
Chess 1,017 934 1,571 1,593 1,851 1,894
Skiing 3,510 3,566 2,298 2,009 1,997 1,849
Bowling 10,611 6,592 2,152 1,908 1,842 1,727
Jujutsu n n 1,885 1,841 1,791 1,655
Diving[notes 4] 641 948 1,307 1,297 1,276 1,261
Motorboat sports 657 718 1,289 1,288 1,218 1,215
Air sports 1,123 1,280 921 898 1,047 1,013
American football n n 1,213 1,067 923 962
Boxing 803 603 1,063 1,034 884 956
Taekwondo 516 659 1,078 963 967 849
Rolling sports n n 517 583 618 678
Ice hockey n n 625 659 640 677
Fencing 670 620 619 675 681 645
Baseball n 462 605 569 550 567
Rugby 325 386 474 440 450 520
Ice sports 1,264 1,324 454 456 496 489
Triathlon n 91 281 297 337 426
Hiking (HSB) 869 1,015 389 384 372 374
Squash 428 844 448 395 386 349
Motorsports (ordinary members) 798 907 205 175 294 347
Motorsports (extraordinary members) n n 725 760 669 682
Aikido n n 326 317 412 344
Angling (Comparative) n n 125 476 400 333
Pétanque n n 231 263 213 297
Weightlifting n n 267 265 242 246
Wrestling 679 773 271 244 234 232
Miniature golf 385 436 274 234 232 208
Darts n n 222 211 184 172
Cue sports 96 125 38 108 141 165
Cycling-Solidarity n n 136 139 144 144
Cricket n n 238 181 165 86
Hiking (VTF) n n 341 251 185 74
Water skiing n n 65 58 60 57
Polo 16 16 37 38 36 34
Acrobatics n n 10 13 14 17
Sailing on the Außenalster

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Ruder(n)" is the German term for 'rowing'
  2. ↑ Former names include HSH Nordbank Arena or AOL Arena
  3. ↑ Hockey means here both indoor and field hockey.
  4. ↑ Diving is here under water diving.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 HSB: 502.571 Mitglieder in 780 Vereinen (in German), State Chancellery (Senatskanzlei), archived from the original on 6 August 2008, retrieved 14 August 2008
  2. ↑ Staff (22 February 2004), 74th FIDE Congress: Annex 29 - Committee on Chess Art, Exhibition and Philately Report, World Chess Federation, archived from the original on 23 November 2008, retrieved 17 August 2008
  3. ↑ Staff (12 March 2005), The Club History, Der Hamburger und Germania Ruder Club, retrieved 15 August 2008
  4. ↑ Grüne, Hardy (1996), Vom Kronprinzen bis zur Bundesliga (in German), Kassel: AGON Sportverlag, ISBN 3-928562-85-1
  5. ↑ 3rd Chess Olympiad: Hamburg 1930, OlimpBase, retrieved 14 August 2008
  6. ↑ Hamburg Schachklub homepage (in German), Hamburger Schachklub
  7. ↑ German Press and Information Office, Hamburg, Press and Information Office of the Federal Government (BPA), retrieved 14 August 2008
  8. ↑ Berman, Zach (12 July 2008), "Thompson Hopes to Make It Count Against Klitschko", The Washington Post, retrieved 14 August 2008
  9. ↑ Evans, B.J. (4 July 2008), U.S. Beach Teams on Fire at World University Championship, volleyball.teamusa.org, archived from the original on 16 August 2008, retrieved 17 August 2008
  10. ↑ Hamburg Sport Federation (HSB), Jahresbericht 2007 (PDF) (in German), Hamburger Sportbund, p. 14, retrieved 14 August 2008
  11. ↑ Ahmed Bilal: 2010 Champions League Final in Madrid, 2010 UEFA Cup final in Hamburg 29 March 2008 www.soccerlens.com Accessed 11 August 2008
  12. ↑ Hamburg Blue Devils ziehen sich zuruck Archived 26 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in German) GFL website, published: 18 January 2014, accessed: 14 May 2014
  13. ↑ "Football-Comeback des Jahres: Hamburg Sea Devils und Frankfurt Galaxy starten in der ELF". ran.de (in German). 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  14. ↑ "Neues Hamburger Footballteam spielt im Stadion Hoheluft" (in German). Hamburger Abendblatt. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  15. ↑ Australian Football im Stadtpark (in German), abendblatt online, 18 July 2005, retrieved 14 August 2008
  16. ↑ "Skarb - Polonia Hamburg". www.90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  17. ↑ Solingen Alligators Extend Winning Streak, retrieved 11 September 2008
  18. ↑ Baseball & Softball Portal - Statistiken 1. Bundesliga Nord 2008: Teamstats Hamburg Knighst (in German), retrieved 11 September 2008
  19. ↑ Staff, Top 100 Players April 2005 - Archive, World Chess Federation, retrieved 17 August 2008
  20. ↑ Staff (22 February 2004), Gustafsson, Jan FIDE Chess Player Personal Page, World Chess Federation, retrieved 17 August 2008
  21. ↑ Staff, Vereine (Clubs in the North German Cricket Federation), German Cricket Federation, retrieved 17 August 2008
  22. ↑ Staff, Trophies, HSV Cricket, archived from the original on 7 December 2008, retrieved 17 August 2008
  23. ↑ Ross Forman: Out lacrosse coach lands in Germany Archived 4 June 2008 at the Wayback Machine 10 June 2008 www.outsports.com Accessed 11 August 2008
  24. ↑ Hamburger Polo Club: Chronik (in German), retrieved 14 August 2008
  25. ↑ DPV-Ergebnisse deutsche Meisterschaften (in German), archived from the original on 21 October 2007, retrieved 16 August 2008
  26. ↑ Center Court / Rothenbaum Stadion (in German), Deutscher Tennis Bund, archived from the original on 1 February 2009, retrieved 16 August 2008
  27. ↑ HSH Nordbank Arena, retrieved 14 August 2008
  28. ↑ Alsterschwimmhalle, retrieved 14 August 2008
  29. ↑ "Olympiastützpunkt Hamburg". osphh-sh.de (in German). Olympiastützpunkt Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein. Retrieved 20 April 2015.
  30. ↑ Jack Shinar: Kamsin Easily Wins Deutsches Derby Archived 9 July 2008 at the Wayback Machine 9 July 2008 news.bloodhorse.com Accessed 11 August 2008
  31. ↑ Polo (in German), Hamburger Polo Club, retrieved 16 August 2008
  32. ↑ IAAF: Mandago, Timofeyeva impress at Hamburg Marathon 27 April 2008 http://www.iaaf.org/ www.iaaf.org] Accessed 11 August 2008
  33. ↑ Hamburger Abendblatt: Hamburg City Man 2006 als WM-Generalprobe 2 February 2008 www.abendblatt.de Accessed 11 August 2008 (in German)
  34. ↑ Sophia Pearson: ATP Tour Wants to Monopolize Tennis, Lawyer Says 21 July 2008 www.bloomberg.com Accessed 11 August 2008
  35. ↑ http://www.dw-world.de: German Tennis Federation Suing to Prevent "Dead Tournament" 23 July 2008 Accessed 11 August 2008
  36. ↑ Official website Accessed 15 August 2008 (in German)
  37. ↑ Hamburg Sport Federation (HSB), Jahresbericht 2007 (PDF) (in German), Hamburger Sportbund, retrieved 14 August 2008
  38. ↑ Hamburg Sport Federation (HSB), Jahresbericht 2007 (PDF) (in German), Hamburger Sportbund, p. 6, retrieved 14 August 2008
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