Climbing in the former power station of the long-dead blast furnace, pole vaulting over old supply tracks, a 30 by 40 meter big one BMX-Park on the bunker forecourt. The Ruhr Games in Duisburg use the industrial monument Landscape Park North to stage young and sometimes spectacular sports.
For two weeks, more than 280 helpers built up a spectacular world of sports and culture. There are ramps and Halfpipesa beach volleyball field made of 140 tons of sand and several grandstands.
Competitions, music and drone show
Numerous competitions are also held during the Ruhrgames. These include, for example, the European Championships in BMX Flatland, bouldering and speed climbing. The German championships in sports acrobatics and beach volleyball will also be decided in Duisburg on Sunday. In the BMX Park, international athletes collect qualifying points for the Olympics.
In addition, there is a cultural program at the Ruhrgames, including graffiti paintings and art workshops. A kick-off event is planned for Thursday evening with live music by Stina Holmquist, Leonids and Giant Rooks. The finale is a drone show in the night sky.
Ruhrgames for the second time in Duisburg
The organizers are expecting around 5,200 athletes from 30 countries in Duisburg. Tens of thousands of spectators will probably come over the whole, long Corpus Christi weekend. Admission to the Ruhrgames is free. So that the opening show on Thursday evening doesn’t get too crowded, there are wristbands at the entrance.
The Ruhrgames are organized by the Ruhr Regional Association every two years. In 2015 the festival took place in Essen held for the first time in 2017 Dortmund and in 2019 the Duisburger Landschaftspark-Nord was the venue for the first time. In 2021 there was a digital Corona edition in Bochum – and now the Ruhrgames are coming to Duisburg for the second time.
We also report on the topic in the local times in the WDR radio and television.