Page 45 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Germany

A POR TR AIT OF GERM AN Y  43

Formula One
Back in the 1930s, motor-racing
was dominated by the famous
“Silver Arrows”, made by
Mercedes-Benz. Formula One
has been a decidedly German
discipline since its beginnings
in 1950 and there have always
been at least three German
drivers taking part. In 2014, The Hockenheim race track near Heidelberg
hybrid engines were introduced
and the “Silver Arrows” once As well as in the German Alps, as it was then called. The
again dominated the sport. The which have the most popular following year 20 yachts
German Formula One Grand Prix ski resorts, excellent conditions competed while thousands of
is held each July at the Hocken- exist for downhill and cross- spectators watched from the
heim-Ring, near Heidel berg. country skiing in the less shore. The championship went
Germany’s former leading glamorous and less expensive on to become an international
driver, Michael Schumacher, Black Forest in Baden- event, which gained in prestige
won the World Championship Württemberg, and the Harz as the Emperor took part in
in 1994 and 1995 and every year Mountains in Saxony-Anhalt. each race from 1894 until 1914.
from 2000 to 2004. Other suc- Today it is traditional for the
cessful German drivers include Cycling president of the German
Sebastian Vettel, who was World Federal Republic to formally
Champion from 2010–2013, and Cycling enjoys a great follow- open the regatta (in the last
Nico Rosberg, who was World ing in Germany. The Tour de week of June) in which
Champion in 2016. France is broadcast simul- thousands of yachts from
taneously by two television many countries take part.
stations, and ever-increasing
numbers of people are
taking part in the sport, both Swimming
for pleasure and competitively. Swimming, more than any
Success on the cycle track other sport in Germany, has
has long been a German seen a decline in success
tradition, but Jan Ullrich since reunification and the
exceeded expec tations subsequent cessation of
when he won gold in the competition between East
long distance at the Sydney and West. At the 1988
Olympics in 2000 and silver Olympics in Seoul, for
in the 2012 London Games. example, Kristin Otto won
six gold medals. In 2000,
the reunified German team
Sailing
Severin Freund at a round of the FIS Ski returned from Sydney
Jumping World Cup in Willingen Kieler Woche is the most having gained only three
important regatta in the world, bronze medals. Two figures
according to Paul Henderson, who rose to the top in the
Skiing the President of the Inter- past are Michael Gross, who
Since 1953, the last week of national Sailing Federation. On was a member of the West
December and the first week of 1 September 1881, five officers German team, and Franziska
January have been dominated of the Emperor’s navy held a van Almsick, a member of
by the Four Ski Jumps yachting race in the Bay of Kiel, the East German team.
Championship for ski jumpers.
This classic event, which is held
in Oberstdorf and Garmisch-
Partenkirchen in Germany, as
well as in Innsbruck and
Bischofshofen in Austria, attracts
several thousand spectators and
millions of television viewers.
German athletes have gained
first place in this competition
16 times over the years. Franziska von Almsick during the German Swimming Championships

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