Ceremony with Herbert Hainer, Alphonso Davies, Lena Oberdorf, Alara Şehitler and Elias Harris

None of Bayern’s players were able to attend the City of Munich's Sports Awards ceremony in person last year due to fixture clashes, while Herbert Hainer was connected live from the Euroleague basketball game at the SAP Garden, but this time the president, Alphonso Davies, Lena Oberdorf, Alara Şehitler and Elias Harris were in attendance, along with the FCB U19 women's table tennis and basketball teams, and Nicolas Kodjoe, who won silver with Germany at the U19 Basketball World Cup.

Hainer said he was very happy that Bayern could once again be present at the event in the Old Town Hall. “Firstly, because although we are a global club, Munich is our home and we are very proud of it. And secondly, because the athletes who are being honoured here are achieving great things. FC Bayern would like to commend them all. You are true role models.” As president, he is delighted with the championships and titles won by the teams led by Davies, Oberdorf, Alara and Harris, Hainer continued, “but I’m just as delighted with youngsters such as Nicolas and our German U19 championships in basketball and table tennis, because true achievement has nothing to do with the limelight, it comes from within each individual.” In this context, the FCB president also addressed the athletes in the hall: “This makes you all very special ambassadors, beyond sport. Munich can be very, very proud of you all, and so is FC Bayern!”

Among the numerous honourees who were awarded the Golden Medal of Honour of the City of Munich by sports commissioner Verena Dietl and sports councillor Florian Kraus, together with the city councillors and moderated by Markus Othmer, were world champions, European champions, German champions and title holders in a wide variety of disciplines, from trampolining and athletics to shooting. Given the wide range of disciplines represented, a recurring theme was Munich's bid for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. “Our opinion is that sport brings people together and the city wins,” said Hainer, reiterating Bayern's support for the bid. “The people here in this room are the best argument for a bid. When a city promotes its talent, it grows beyond itself. Munich is not just bidding for a few weeks of sport but for decades of impact: encounters, participation, education. That is why our appeal as Bayern is let's all form a team – one city, one goal for the Games in Munich.”

During the talk on stage, Oberdorf and Alara gave insights into their everyday lives at FC Bayern Women, Davies received loud applause when he showed off his Bavarian language skills, and Harris took those present on a little trip down memory lane to the basketball championship win a year ago. “It was impressive today to see the great sporting achievements and successes that young Munich residents in particular have achieved,” said Oberdorf, with Alara adding: “I hope that everyone continues to pursue their sport with passion. They motivate other young people.” Davies summed up the evening by saying, “Munich is not only a very beautiful city, but also a very sporting one.”