Sachsen-Anhalt Celebrates a Decade of Successful Youth Sports Talent Promotion Amid Upcoming 'Midnight Sport' Event

In 2026, Sachsen-Anhalt marks ten years of its pioneering youth sports talent promotion program, hailed as unique in Germany for its comprehensive approach to nurturing future athletes. Dr. Tamara Zieschang, Minister of Sports, underscored the program’s success in identifying and developing young talent through initiatives such as a statewide motor skills test involving around 18,000 third graders annually. Participation at the Sachsen-Anhalt Games has surged from 209 in 2015 to 2,012 this year, with 59 talent groups now operating, up from just three a decade ago. This structure enables promising athletes to train under expert guidance and balance education and sports at Eliteschools in Halle (Saale) and Magdeburg, which have admitted 515 children since the program’s inception. Additionally, in 2025, 17 youths were appointed to the national Bundeskader and four to the Juniorteam, signaling growing national recognition.

Alongside this, the upcoming "Midnight Sport – from Dusk till Dawn" event in Bad Hersfeld on August 28 offers free sports activities to children and youth, promoting grassroots participation. From 8 pm to 1 am, activities such as skating, basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, minigolf, and climbing will be available without registration. Para-shooter Michaela Schmermund will introduce participants to lasersports shooting, and local organizations including THW and DRK support the event. Strict bans on alcohol, cannabis, and drugs ensure a safe environment.

Silke Renk-Lange, President of the State Sports Federation, emphasized the cooperative effort among schools, clubs, and associations to provide inclusive sports opportunities, fostering both elite athletes and broader grassroots engagement through campaigns like "Komm zum Sport." Together, these efforts illustrate Sachsen-Anhalt’s commitment to long-term youth sports development and community involvement.