German sport has its difficulties.

Medals at the Olympic Games or other international competitions are the benchmark.

And in recent years, German athletes have rarely returned with dream balance sheets.

Since after the performance of the German national team in Qatar and the accompanying noise everything is threatening to become a bit difficult in terms of sport diplomacy in the struggle for major events such as the Olympic Games or "only" the co-host role at the soccer World Cup for women in 2027, it would be necessary sometimes someone who sets himself up as a savior.

Daniel Meuren

Editor in the Rhein-Main-Zeitung.

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From this point of view, Tim Bendzko, whom Deutsche Sporthilfe announced on Thursday as the top act for the sports ball on January 21, is perhaps the right singer for the gala meeting of German sports: "Just save the world for a moment" is his best-known Song.

Saving the sports world should then be a comparatively easy exercise.

Highly exclusive and lots of glamour

At the 52nd edition of the ball, which will take place in the Frankfurt Festhalle for the first time since 2006 and at least five times until 2027 after leaving Wiesbaden, the Berlin singer-songwriter will create a mood on the dance floor after midnight for the guests, to whom numerous medal winners at Olympic Games, Paralympics as well as World and European Championships.

Bendzko's particularly close ties to sport were shown not least by his popular song "Hoch" for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. In June he sang at the farewell gala of Frank Stäbler, the best German wrestler of the past quarter century.

On January 21, Stäbler is one of a few dozen former competitive athletes who mix with the active athletes as regular guests.

In addition to the musical top act and a spectacular show program with climbing and sports acrobatics, around 1,400 guests can look forward to a three-course menu created by star chef Nelson Müller.

Already in 2019 and 2020, Müller, who was awarded a Michelin star for his cooking skills in 2011, provided culinary delights for the guests.

“The Ball des Sports has always been highly exclusive and has a lot of glamor and stars both among the guests and in the program.

We are therefore very pleased to have won Nelson Müller and Tim Bendzko, two German stars with a strong and authentic connection to top-class sport, for the Ball des Sports,” says Karsten Petry, board member of Deutsche Sporthilfe.

As Europe's largest charity event in sports, the Ball des Sports brings together Germany's elite from sports, business, politics and society once a year.

For Deutsche Sporthilfe, the Ball des Sports is the most important event of the year, both financially and ideally.

The foundation generates a six-figure benefit proceeds for the benefit of athletes, also through a raffle with prizes worth 300,000 euros.

After the corona-related alternative date in summer 2022, the ball of sports is now returning to the traditional time of the ball season.

Unlike usual, this year it is possible to buy tickets for the "Ball des Sports" without an invitation for the price of 1,200 euros.

An additional, voluntary donation (against donation receipt) in the order of 400 euros is requested.

The proceeds from the benefit event go to the best young German and top athletes.

Ticket inquiries can be sent to Deutsche Sporthilfe (events@sporthilfe.de).