Summer ball and farewell party at the same time in the Hessian state capital: Numerous prominent athletes, politicians and business representatives celebrated the 51st Sports Ball in the Rhein-Main Congress Center in Wiesbaden on Saturday evening.

Around 1,500 guests came to the charity ball of the German Sports Aid Foundation, which will be held in Frankfurt from next year.

But that didn't dampen the mood.

At the beginning of the ball, the guests strolled down the red carpet in a good mood.

A total of more than 100 winners of Olympic and Paralympic medals were expected - as in previous years, the ball proved to be the who's who of the German sports world.

Last year he took a break due to the corona pandemic.

This year, for the first time, celebrations were held in summer, which is why, exceptionally, many winter sports enthusiasts came.

Almsick praises Wiesbaden

Swimming star Franziska van Almsick came in a sensational, colour-changing green dress with a train.

"I think it's great when you can really dress up once a year," she said, adding: "Wiesbaden was so great.

It's a pity that we can't continue here.

Let's see what Frankfurt can do.

Weightlifter and Olympic champion Matthias Steiner emphasized the importance of sports aid for athletes, especially in sports where "big money is not made".

For Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser, it was the first sport ball.

She used to ride herself, as she said when asked during the event.

Hesse's new Prime Minister Boris Rhein runs five kilometers every day, regardless of the wind and weather, or, according to his own statements, rides a racing bike.

Wiesbaden, he said, made the wrong decision, now Frankfurt can distinguish itself with the ball.

"For me it's important that the ball stays in Hesse," emphasized Rhein.

Skaters, BMX artists, biathlon relay

In the ballroom in the north hall of the congress center, the guests enjoyed a spectacular program throughout the evening.

After the most successful German athletes of 2021 and 2022 had been received and introduced by moderator Johannes B. Kerner, skaters, BMX artists and then a biathlon relay demonstrated their skills on a parkour that ran across the hall.

"Thank you for passing on our values," Kerner said to the athletes, adding: "It's a great feeling to have you at the summer ball of sports in Wiesbaden tonight."

Sporthilfe had won the singer Michael Schulte and the newcomer Zoe Wees for the midnight show.

The ball menu was created by Käfer Party Service.

The main course was saddle of veal with wild broccoli, young carrots, truffled potato mousseline and white summer truffle.

As a vegetarian option, around 175 service staff served wild broccoli with crunchy zucchini blossoms.

The dessert consisted of a "strawberry sphere" with Fairtrade chocolate tartlet, almond crumble and fruity strawberries.

The Ball des Sports is considered Europe's most successful sports benefit gala and regularly generates high six-figure proceeds that are used to support German athletes.