ACTIVE CITIES HAM BURG

THE LEGACY LIVES ON

THE CITY OF HAS DRIVEN ITS SPORTS STRATEGY ONWARDS AND UPWARDS AND IS BUILDING ON THE LEGACIES IT SET OUT DURING ITS 2024 OLYMPIC CANDIDATURE. THE GERMAN CITY CONTINUES TO INVEST TENS OF MILLIONS OF EUROS IN PROJECTS TO BENEFIT LOCAL PEOPLE AND ATTRACT HIGH-PROFILE COMPETITIONS. IT IS THE LATEST MEMBER OF THE GLOBAL ACTIVE CITY PROGRAMME SUPPORTED BY THE IOC

TE X T: RACHEL BEACHER ILLUSTRATIONS: CELINA LUCEY

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“The Hamburg Active City Masterplan builds on the ideas and concepts developed as part of the bid for the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games and uses them as a catalyst for development and sport in the city. The masterplan contains concrete suggestions for improving school and club sports, expanding public sports and offering sports for all. The goal is to develop and expand on as many sport and exercise options as possible, in order to reach and support all those interested in sports and movement in Hamburg.” Hamburg Active City Masterplan

nsuring a lasting legacy is a for any type of town, city or region, top priority for any city seeking and can be implemented independently, Eto host the Olympic Games. or before, during or after a hosting How can a city also benefit from a application for an international sporting of people in Hamburg play sport, Candidature Process and create event. Cities work on the approach with participation equal across a legacy even if not elected? for one-to-three years before being genders * Hamburg’s bid for the 2024 Olympic independently assessed. The model Games was stopped in its tracks by nurtures the six strands of legacy a referendum which revealed 48.4 as defined by Scheu and Preuss per cent of local voters were in favour (2017) (see Olympic Studies, p76): of the project. urban development; environmental 596,000people, or about one-third of To ensure that the money and enhancement; policy and governance; the city’s population, belong planning remained a good investment, skills, knowledge and networks; to a sports club or association, the city focused its efforts on intellectual property; and beliefs 18% more than in 2006** transforming its investments in its and behaviour. Olympic proposals into long-term Even before its Olympic bid, benefits for residents. Hamburg, with a population of 1.8 Stakeholder workshops were held in million, was one of the sportiest cities order to determine which legacy strands in Europe – and one of the greenest. 1,000 talented children are being trained from the hosting bid were viable. Thirty- Named European Green Capital towards the goal of competing in two projects were incorporated into of 2011, the city has around 17 per the Olympic Games*** the Hamburg Active City Masterplan, cent green spaces. Planners intend 26 of them deemed possible by 2024, to increase this “Green Network” to requiring a EUR 50 million budget. Even 40 per cent surface area by 2034, the area outlined to house the Olympic including installing three public Stadium and Olympic Village would still parks over a motorway – a measure sports1,600 facilities exist in Hamburg, be developed. that has been proven to increase including 240 sports fields and Now Hamburg has strengthened physical activity levels in other cities. 120 tennis courts* its masterplan by joining the IOC- Cars will be banned from large areas. supported, non-profit-making Active The HafenCity (Harbour City), which Well-being Initiative as a partner city. was going to host the Olympic Games It is aiming to be certified as a Global and Village, is now Europe’s largest world’s biggest regular . The city REPORT 2018 Active City later this year, alongside inner-city regeneration project. When is now also home to the training centres MASTERPLAN 2016 other candidates such as Liverpool completed, it will offer a university, for the German beach volleyball teams. (Great Britain), Lillehammer (Norway), housing and commerce, with many Integrated into the masterplan are Richmond (Canada) and Buenos opportunities to cycle and walk. physical activity projects for children, Aires (Argentina). Global Active Cities Sports leaders talk of promoting older people, people with disabilities, work with stakeholders to encourage the whole city as a stadium, and in and refugees. Doctors are encouraged residents to do more sport and 2017 an was added to prescribe exercise, with more than physical activity in an evidence-based to other successful annual events such half of affected patients reporting a and strategic way. The model works as the Hamburg and the clinical improvement. *HAMBURG ACTIVE CITY **HAMBURG SPORTS FEDERATION **SIXTH HAMBURG SPORTS

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Elbe Philharmonic Hall Harbour Kohlbrandbrucke Hamburg Elbbru cken

RIVER ELBE

Above Parks and green spaces have been connected around Hamburg to form a 100km Q. Why does Hamburg want Q. Will Hamburg bid for other “Green Ring” to be a Global Active City? international sporting events? A. Mostly it’s about urbanisation. A. An important question after Olympic Review met with Hamburg People move to cities because the referendum was: what are State Councillor Christoph Holstein, they have schools, universities, we going to do now? Are we one of the authors of the Hamburg culture – everything you want. We satisfied with third division [football] Active City Masterplan. Earlier this want to make sure the quality of or do we want to continue playing year, Councillor Holstein visited life is increasing as well. Our opinion Champions League? We said Liverpool with senior IOC officials is sport plays a very important role. Hamburg is an ambitious, for a Global Active City workshop, We want to talk to other cities and international city. Our ambitions organised by the Active Well- we want to learn from other cities. do not only concern culture, being Initiative and attended by When John Marsden told me about economy, trade and industry, representatives of 10 countries. his experience in Liverpool, I but also sports. So we didn’t feel It was hosted by John Marsden, was fascinated. I said: “These are also defeated and we decided to keep Director of Global Active City our problems, and you are giving us on bidding for international events. Development, and Liverpool hints to solve them.” Even in times of Last year, we hosted the AIBA John Moores University, and digitalisation it’s important for people World Boxing Championships and included field trips to active to meet, discuss and share experiences. a few games of the Women’s World city projects. Liverpool was It is also a chance for us to let people Handball Championship. This year, a development partner for the know that we spent approximately we will have the World Wheelchair Global Active City approach. EUR 12 million on the Candidature Basketball Championships. Next Process for the Games in 2024 and year, we will have the Beach it was not for nothing. We are using our Volleyball World Championship Olympic bid as a springboard to achieve and the men’s handball semi-finals. hundreds of benefits for the well-being We are thinking about what we are of residents. going to do in the early 2020s.

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HAMBURG ‘WE ARE USING OUR I think it’s an optimistic signal that PROJECTS AND INITIATIVES OLYMPIC BID AS A more people want to take that first SPRINGBOARD TO step. People in Hamburg are self- ACHIEVE HUNDREDS confident and they don’t want to be OF BENEFITS FOR told by the government what they have to do. We must give people the THE WELL-BEING Elbe Philharmonic Hall chance to make their own experience. OF RESIDENTS’ You could go by public transport or car, Cycle network Harbour Small fitness CHRISTOPH HOLSTEIN and be stuck in a traffic jam, but you expansion stations Kohlbrandbrucke could also go by foot or use a bike. It’s Hamburg’s target is for Seven outdoor gyms Hamburg Elbbru cken not the case that the government must 25 per cent of journeys will be built in parks tell them what to do, but the government to be made by bicycle and public spaces must give them opportunities. by 2025, compared to across the city. There Q. What concerns do you have 12 per cent in 2008; are already a number RIVER ELBE about sports and public health? Q. What are your future plans to 1,200 bike parking of these, which enable A. I think they’re the same for big increase physical activity levels? spaces are being added people to exercise in cities anywhere – obesity and a lack A. I remember an interview with the each year, towards a the open as an of physical activity. If you’re interested London Mayor when he said: “I want total of 28,000. Also, alternative to the in sport, it shouldn’t be a problem to to shape the image of the city through 280km of bicycle routes gym. The city will encourage your kids to go to sports sport.” You also need to have the are being widened, and also build changing clubs. But there are many people big, spectacular things. That is the 50km constructed or rooms and showers who don’t do any physical activity. motivation for our horse riding stadium; rehabilitated per year. in larger parks, and More people are getting older – in 30 we have a big tennis stadium and we A former landfill site is enable runners to years, we will have two-thirds of people want to renovate and modernise it. We being transformed into use swimming pool over the age of 55. We must make spend money on sports in the heart of a mountain bike track. showers for a small fee. efforts to help them keep their mobility the city to give people the opportunity to because otherwise they will be isolated experience and enjoy sports. It doesn’t from society. Those are things that matter if you’re active or just a spectator. change the meaning of sports in big It could be that you see the big events cities. When you asked someone 20 and you think, “Come on, let’s try it.” years ago – “What is sport good for?” – the answer would have been: “It’s fun; Q. Why do people in Hamburg do so it keeps you fit” – and that’s all. much sport compared to other cities? Investment in Role model Active Today, we know what sport means for A. It’s easy to do sports here. For sports arenas City district integration, that sport is a key factor example, I can run from my office Upgrades to sports The city is prioritising in the economy, that sport is a city’s to my home in the evening. It’s 10 arenas and swimming physical activity in marketing. People think in a different kilometres and across four streets, and pools include Klein the development of way about what sports can do to the rest is parks and lawns. I think it’s Flottbek Derby Park a new district, due to be improve your life quality and what sports a very important thing to give people and Am Rothenbaum completed in the 2020s. can do to improve your health. opportunities to be active. The other tennis stadium. Sports Oberbillwerder’s thing is you have to give a good image facilities are being 16-20,000 residents Q. What are your local to sports. If you are young and modern, built in line with new will be able to reach challenges to motivate people then you have to be connected with housing developments, everything on foot or to do physical activity? sports. This is something we realised 20 school sports halls by bike. There is just A. The number of people who are that many people think in Hamburg. are being renovated half a parking space members of sports clubs and going or rebuilt, and each allocated to each home, to the gym is increasing. We’ve got For more information about the district will have one including visitor parking. beautiful weather right now; if you Global Active City programme, wheelchair-accessible Parcels will only be see how many people go by bike visit activewellbeing.org or follow hall and one beach delivered to instead of by car or public transport, @AWBInitiative volleyball facility. special hubs.

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