Whether football, handball, athletics or swimming – Leipzig has a long tradition in competitive sport The city supports competitive sports through various funding programs and hosts national and international sporting events, which attract tens of thousands of people to Leipzig every year. In addition to the internationally renowned Champions League games opportunities, RB Leipzig to Tournaments like Leipzig Open (tennis) and the Leipzig Marathon. The Gymnastics Festival 2025 – the world’s largest competitive and popular sports event – also takes place in Leipzig. The city is also historically closely linked to sport. Sportroute Leipzig makes the most important places in Leipzig's eventful sports history visible at a total of 22 stations.
Sport in Leipzig and Region
Sport in Leipzig and Region
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The city of Leipzig supports competitive sport from football to swimming
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Leipzig hosts renowned Sporting events
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Particularly impressive: Leipzig's football history
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The sports route makes the key places in Leipzig's sports history visible
competitive sport
Horse riding, fencing, cycling, handball – the competitive sports in Leipzig flourishes. This is not least due to the extensive support programs with which the city of Leipzig supports its athletes. Modern sports facilities and training centers offer ideal conditions for efficient training. To support young athletes, Sports Clubs and Schools work closely together here. This means that talent is identified and promoted early on.
A particular incentive for young people to engage in sports is likely to be the numerous internationally recognized sporting events which take place regularly in Leipzig and attract numerous sports enthusiasts and tourists to the Saxon metropolis. These include the partner horsethe Leipzig Open, Leipzig Marathon and the UEFA EURO 2024™, where Leipzig was one of ten German host cities. After the successful European Football Championship In 2024, the sporting events will continue in 2025: Leipzig will host the International German Gymnastics Festival 2025 – the world’s largest sporting event in competitive and recreational sports.
sports facilities in Leipzig
Leipzig and football
Leipzig is not only in the top league in canoeing, swimming, judo and handball. The Saxon metropolis also has a long tradition of success in football. The German Football Association (DFB) was founded here in 1900. In the 1902/03 season, VfB Leipzig won the cup and became the first German football champions. Traditional clubs such as the BSG Chemie (Regionalliga Nordost), Lok Leipzig (Regionalliga Nordost) or first division club RB Leipzig, which has put the city back in the spotlight in international top football with its regular participation in the Champions League, represent Leipzig's deep connection to football.
Leipzig football clubs
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- Full name: Rasenballsport Leipzig e. v.
- family-friendly club
- Since 2016 in the 1. Bundesliga
- mascot "Bulli" in the colors red and white
- RB Stadium with a capacity of up to 47.000 guests
- current coach: Marco Rose
- former coach: Julian Nagelsmann – current coach of the German national team
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- full name: company sports association Chemie Leipzig
- traditional club from Leipzig-Leutzsch
- strong definition of committed fan culture
- club motto "Nobody like us"
- voluntary youth and social work in the west of Leipzig
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- full name: 1. FC Locomotive Leipzig
- official successor of the first German football champion VfB Leipzig
- traditional club from Leipzig-Probstheida
- Lokruf-Radio with live broadcast of the Lok games fans organized by fans since 2004
Discover Leipzig's city center with the Explore Leipzig app
The city walk "City Center Tour - Leipzig on Foot" takes you through the city center of Leipzig and shows you the most important sights and attractions that Leipzig has to offer. You will be accompanied by interactive and multimedia elements.
If you have less time available, the highlight tour "City center tour with selected highlights" perfect for you. On this tour you will discover the top attractions of the city on a small but fine city tour.
Gymnastics Festival 2025
in Leipzig
The International German Gymnastics Festival 2025 took place from May 28th to June 1st The event took place in Leipzig and was a highlight in the gymnastics and sports calendar. The major event attracted numerous guests and offered a varied program with competitions, shows, participatory activities, and cultural experiences.
Leipzig thus became the hub for gymnastics athletes all age groups and performance levelsThe gymnastics festival, which is held every four years in different cities, is the world's largest event for competitive and recreational sports and expects tens of thousands of participants each time. In addition to the European Championships in Artistic Gymnastics In 2025, numerous other sporting competitions were also held, impressively demonstrating the diversity of sport.
Excursion tips around the 2025 Gymnastics Festival
Gymnastics Festival 2025 in Leipzig: Sports
The International German Gymnastics Festival 2025 in Leipzig was a sporting event of superlatives with 80.000 active athletes, including 5.000 international participants. The event was accompanied by 5.000 volunteers and around 750.000 visitors. Over five days, Leipzig and the surrounding region were the scene of exciting competitions in 23 different sports disciplines, including ten German championshipsThe events took place in 40 different locations One of the highlights was the European Championships in Artistic Gymnastics.
A particular focus was on the Participation offerswhere guests could get active and try out different sports. show events and galas provided a platform for top athletes from Germany, Europe, and around the world. The 2025 Gymnastics Festival promoted exchange and a sense of community among sports enthusiasts, combining sports, culture, and socializing in a diverse program. Participants and guests from all over the world were welcomed by Leipzig to this unique event.
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Do gymnastics: Aerobic gymnastics, apparatus gymnastics, combined events, parkour, wheel gymnastics, sports acrobatics, team gym, trampoline gymnastics
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ball sports: Fistball, Indiaca, netball, rebound ball, ring tennis, dodgeball, volleyball
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Gymnastics and dance: Rhythmic gymnastics, rope skipping, gymnastic music, gymnastics/dance
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Competitive and game sports: Orienteering, Gymnastics Youth Group Championships (TGM), Gymnastics Youth Group Competitions (TGW), Optional Competition
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Further Informationblog posts
Water sports at Lake Kulkwitz
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Read Nowblog posts
48 Hours in Leipzig
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Read moreblog posts
The Leipzig New Lake District
Sportroute Leipzig
Leipzig is a sports city with a rich tradition, a fascinating present and a promising future. Sports enthusiasts can explore the city's multifaceted history on the sports route, which highlights the key locations in Leipzig's sports history. In addition to informative facts, you will also be introduced to personalities who have made a significant contribution to the development of Leipzig as a sports city. The sports route will be steadily expanded in the coming years and will eventually include 22 stations.
Sportroute Leipzig leads through 200 years of sports history
The route takes you through sports venues, sports developments and sports institutions and tells their history. Leipzig's identity as a city of sport once developed at the marked locations. The memory of these places goes hand in hand with the appreciation of special achievements of personalities from 200 years of Leipzig's sports history.
Welcome to Leipzig - The Podcast for your Leipzig Trip