Fussball Fun in Side Park

Football fans and fun-seeking families are invited to join Beijing’s German community for their annual Soccer Championship on Saturday, May 7.

Twelve teams will compete in this free event from 8.30am to 6.30pm at Side Park, and there’s a feast of fun and food as well as the football. We talked about the tournament with Corinna Schlapps, Senior Project Manager at the German Chamber of Commerce in China – North China.

“The idea for the German Soccer Championship came up at the German Ball 2011,” she told us. “And here we are now five years later and the event is already a tradition for the Sino-German community in Beijing.”

Sports, especially soccer, are very important to the German community. “A lot of companies have their own sports team and it is part of their company philosophy,” Schlapps said. “I personally think that team sports especially are quite important in corporate life because it teaches you a lot about teamwork and team spirit. Besides that, it is also a great outlet and helps you relieve stress.”

Does it get very competitive, we wondered?

“It does get quite heated on the field from time to time (which makes the games interesting)! But in the end sportsmanship prevails and everyone tries to just have a good time and enjoy a fun day.”

It’s not just football though, there’s lots to do! Schlapps says visitors can “expect a fun day, full of exciting games for the entire family. Everyone has the chance to win great prizes, from restaurant and hotel vouchers to signed soccer jerseys, and even a brand new Skoda!”

The children’s area is run by Eduwings Kindergarten, and features face painting, an arts and craft corner, and a bouncy castle. “Their staff takes amazing care of children,” said Schlapps. “The entire venue is child friendly, it’s a park, so it’s perfect to spend a day outdoors tinkering, bouncing, running around, and just having fun.”

There’s great food too.

“We have two caterers who will provide amazingly fresh Western and Chinese food. Der Landgraf prepares classic German and Chinese BBQ with all kinds of sausages and steaks, while Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center provides salads, fresh juices, and a wide variety of pastries from their deli. Nespresso and Cheers offer our guests delicious coffee and refreshing wines – everyone will find something they like.”