The promotional film for the 2018 European Athletics Championships in Berlin, ‘Urban Records’, premiered in the German capital on Monday 27 February in the presence of a star-studded audience from the world of sport, including tennis legend Boris Becker.
Becker himself flew from London to Berlin to be at the premiere while other well-known sporting celebrities at the Zoo Palast cinema in the heart of Berlin included two-time former boxing world champion Arthur Abraham and the multiple world, Olympic and European long jump gold medallist Heike Drechsler.
“I'm a great athletics fan. I used to train a lot with athletes and I know what it means to work hard in sports. It's about always moving your own borders. This is what top athletes and tennis players have in common. I also have a close friend, [former world, Olympic and European decathlon champion] Dailey Thompson, who I often used to train with,” said Becker enthusiastically.
‘Urban Records’ sees three of Germany’s current athletics stars – long jumper Sosthene Moguenara, German 100m record holder Julian Reus and Rio 2016 Olympic Games javelin champion Thomas Röhler – going through their paces in Berlin’s streets and squares.
Stars out in force last night at #UrbanRecords premiere, official film of @berlin_2018 - part of inaugural multisport European Championships pic.twitter.com/jN4hKsPc7p
— Euro Champs (@Euro_Champs) February 28, 2017
The trio were also in attendance on Monday night as part of a glittering audience of 277 specially invited guests, which included 2013 pole vault world champion Raphael Holzdeppe and former European champions Verena Sailer, Tanja Damaske and Betty Heidler, players and coaches from local football clubs 1. FC Union Berlin and Hertha BSC as well as a myriad of German cinema and TV stars.
The film will air in the cinema and on TV channels across Germany from now until the start of the 2018 European Athletics Championships, which will be held from 7-12 August next year as part of the inaugural European Championships with the Scottish city of Glasgow.
On screen, the images capture the vibrancy of Berlin and merges it with the athletes in action in their specialist disciplines.
Röhler throws his spear across the heart of Berlin in the iconic Potsdamer Platz, Reus has a high-speed duel with a Berlin subway train while Moguenara takes leaps over a ravine between two high-rise buildings, the latter making many people’s heart pump and skin tingle.
“It was mega-cool making the film and I had goose bumps when I saw how it looked on screen,” commented Moguenara.
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“The sport should look young, fresh, innovative and different. We want to surprise, we want to be brave, and that’s why it is very special for us to present this film here,” said Managing Director of the Berlin 2018 Local Organizing Committee, Frank Kowalski.
Five-time European champion Drechsler is among a number of high-profile ambassadors for the 2018 European Athletics Championships.
“I had a wonderful time as an active athlete and I wanted to give something back to my sport and contribute my experience,” reflected Drechsler. “That’s why I offered my support to the Local Organising Committee of Berlin 2018 and asked whether there was a way I could help.
“In 2018, I will be at the pit for the long jump competitions, measuring the distances and raking the sand. I cannot wait for it,” she added.
The 2018 European Athletics Championships will be part of the inaugural edition of the multi-sport European Championships, embracing seven sports, which will be held in Glasgow and Berlin during the first half of August 2018.
The European Championships is a major new multi-sport event taking place every four years fully supported by Europe’s free-to-air broadcasters, which aggregates the existing senior continental championships of Athletics (European Athletics), Aquatics (LEN), Cycling (UEC), Gymnastics (UEG), Rowing (FISA), Triathlon (ETU), with a new Golf Team Championships (ET & LET) – all unified under a common brand.