Laps for an open society

A few easy baskets to warm up, then it was time to get started on the Kurt Landauer rooftop sports field at Bellevue di Monaco as FC Bayern will once again be at the start of this year's Giro di Monaco as part of its Red against Racism initiative for diversity. With the charity run under the motto "We can only run together", the Bellevue di Monaco cultural centre and all participants once again want to set an example for a vibrant democracy and tolerant coexistence. The German record champions would be delighted if as many people as possible from the FC Bayern family would join them on 12 May on Munich's Altstadtring - as starters or spectators. The race starts at 10am and is five kilometres long. There should be no problem to then attend one of the men’s, women’s or the basketball team’s games on the same day.

"With its Red against Racism initiative, FC Bayern wants to be an active part of social life in our home city and beyond," said president Herbert Hainer at a meeting with the organisers led by Till Hofmann and patron Mayor Dieter Reiter on the rooftop sports field, which was also attended by Thomas Müller, FC Bayern Basketball World Cup winner Andreas Obst and ambassador Günther Sigl from the Spider Murphy Gang. "We stand for diversity and tolerance, and we want to live this permanently, not just on special memorial days. Especially in this day and age, it is important to stand up for your values. And to stay with the image of this Giro di Monaco, this is not a sprint, but a marathon that requires staying power," Hainer continued. "I can assure you of one thing: FC Bayern will never run out of breath in its commitment to diversity and tolerance. The motto is 'Only together can we run' - and that's exactly what our club stands for. If you stick together, you can achieve something. I find this idea charming and meaningful. You have to be on the move, and when you are active together, you make a difference. Munich sticks together, and FC Bayern is part of it. Here's to a lap for an open society and much more."

Müller, who like Obst and his teammates will not be able to attend in person due to the home games on 12 May, initially said with a wink that he "would rather run after a ball anyway", before adding more seriously that the Giro di Monaco was a strong message. Over 7,000 people took part last year: "Sport emphasises what we have in common, which is an important transfer to our society." Obst said he hoped "that the whole of Munich will take part again. Together we can make a strong statement for the right cause". Mayor Reiter: "Events like this Giro di Monaco are another piece of the mosaic in our dialogue for democracy. We have to prove that we are more, and players like FC Bayern are a uniquely important partner in this." Organiser Hoffmann, with whom the Red against Racism initiative had already played a double act at the Zamreißen gegen Rechts demonstration with over 35,000 people at Odeonsplatz, also looked ahead to the European elections on 9 June: "We want to send a powerful and optimistic signal towards Europe."

All information about the run and the supporting programme can be found HERE.

FC Bayern took part in the large-scale ‘The Return of Names’ project on Thursday with its Red against Racism initiative: