© FC Bayern
At FC Bayern’s Säbener Straße training ground, around 120 primary school children in sportswear stand with their eyes fixed intently ahead. Ahead of them lies a warm-up that’s not something you experience every day. Bayern’s Wisdom Mike and three-time Olympic biathlon champion Michael Greis are cheering on the girls and boys, who are starting the day laughing, jumping and clapping. Next to the pitch, mascot Berni is waving, whilst Young Star (the mascot of the German School Sports Foundation) is giving high-fives, and Timi Tiger (from the State Ministry of Education and Culture) is motivating the youngest children. “Today isn’t just about sport, but about a love of physical activity,” explained Benny Folkmann, managing director of FC Bayern eV. The topic of inclusion also received special attention on this occasion.
It was the second time that the champions of Germany, together with the German School Sports Foundation and in cooperation with Youth Training for the Olympics & Paralympics, have organised the Jugend trainiert primary school competition as part of their ZAM AKTIV physical activity promotion programme. Three Munich primary schools – Rotbuchen Primary School, Fromund Primary School and Führich Primary School – took part, with a total of around 120 children. Bavaria’s Minister for Education and Cultural Affairs, Anna Stolz, visited the event to see for herself, watching the children competing and speaking with teachers and organisers: “Thank you to FC Bayern for providing such opportunities. All you see here are happy and healthy children.”
“Through the Jugend trainiert competition and ZAM AKTIV, we at FC Bayern aim to create a sporting environment in which children can be active together through plenty of exercise, team spirit and fun,” explained Folkmann. “With ZAM AKTIV, our aim is to integrate physical activity into the everyday lives of children and young people in a sustainable way,” added his deputy, Kiki Hasenpusch. Working together with schools and partners, the pair explained, “This creates low-threshold access to sport, health and social participation, regardless of background, ability or physical condition.”
Three-time Olympic biathlon champion Michael Greis not only led the warm-up but also worked up a sweat himself during one or two of the exercises. | © FC Bayern
The children were able to put their skills to the test at five multi-sport stations. The exercises were chosen not only to challenge their strength, coordination and stamina, but above all to foster teamwork and personal development. Whether in relay races, agility tasks or cooperative games, the focus was on fair play, mutual support and the shared enjoyment of physical activity. Greis and Mike not only led the warm-up but also signed numerous autographs throughout the morning, and even worked up a sweat themselves during one or two of the exercises.
There was also a particular focus on the German Disabled Sports Association’s Inclusion Mobile. Here, the children were able to try their hand at wheelchair basketball and get a feel for what it’s like to wear prosthetics. This helped to break down reservations in a playful way and fostered an important awareness of inclusion. The prize-giving ceremony, too, was all about togetherness, as every child received a certificate and a prize, because the focus was not on competition but on the shared experience.
FC Bayern is also encouraging its own members to try sport: