Yoga mat instead of picnic blanket or lace up your shoes, sweat and have fun. From May 31, the free open-air gym "Sport im Park" is back with a choice of over 100 sports activities per week. After the "light version" last year, the joint project of the City of Aachen and the City Sports Association is really taking off. There is something for every age or fitness level and every preference. For six weeks, until July 11, Aachen residents can attend the courses every day of the week as they please. This year's "full version" was also made possible thanks to the support of sponsors STAWAG and Sparkasse Aachen.

Over 100 offers

"I'm really happy that we can offer such a format this year, after the spontaneous, reduced program last year. The original organizer had done a lot over the years and built up something great. We didn't want to lose that. It takes a lot of manpower and the trainers need to be paid appropriately and the parking areas need to be upgraded. We are infinitely grateful that STAWAG and Sparkasse are making a considerable contribution to make this series of events possible," said Dr. Markus Kremer, Aachen City Councillor for Personnel, Fire Service and Sport and patron of "Sport in the Park" at the on-site meeting at Büchel, where courses will also be held. "My thanks also - and especially - go to the city sports association, which has done the core work with our sports department to ensure that everything works well," said Kremer. Several hundred hours of work went into the organization of the more than 100 offers at the sports department and the city sports association.

Björn Jansen, Chairman of the Stadtsportbund, is proud of the three-digit number and with good reason: "We didn't want to fall short of that, that was our goal." Jansen was particularly grateful for "the good cooperation with the city of Aachen. We worked hand in hand with the sports department and we are proud to be able to move Aachen with this offer."

Versatile program

And the program is impressive: from dancing and Zumba, yoga and Pilates to back fitness, HIIT workouts, rugby, skating, capoeira and running. "We have a wide range of activities with over 100 sessions a week, plus a yoga special on June 23, which will take place in Frankenberger Park in addition to all the other activities on offer," explains project manager Theresa Hirtz from the city sports association. "We are playing in a total of twenty parks and green spaces. Our main focus was on attracting more sports clubs. We now have a nice mix of 22 clubs and 19 commercial providers and are looking forward to many Aachen residents taking part."

STAWAG is delighted to be involved as a sponsor, emphasizes press spokeswoman Eva Wussing: "Staying active for free and outdoors is something that fascinates us too. We like being involved in sport, especially getting people moving and giving something back to the people in the region." STAWAG is also involved in "Sport in the Park" with a competition. The second sponsor is also enthusiastic about the summer offer: "We've been very happy to do this for many years. We support a lot of things that help us to feel better. Sport is a big factor in promoting this. At the same time, it's about promoting the community: Teams, teams, volunteers. This fantastic project fits in perfectly with this," says Thomas Salz, member of the Sparkasse Aachen Management Board.

All information on courses, times and locations in a practical weekly overview can be found at https://www.sportinaachen.de/sportimpark.