SPORTS> Germany 2006
Host city: Frankfurt
(FIFAworldcup.com)
Updated: 2006-05-26 15:25

Frankfurt

"Franconovurd" was first mentioned in Charlemagne's deed of donation in 794.

In 855 Frankfurt staged its first Royal election. No less than thirty-six kings were elected and ten German Emperors crowned here between 855 and 1792.

Host city: Frankfurt
The Iron Footbridge: The Iron Footbridge is one of the many bridges spanning the River Main in the Sachsenhausen district.[FIFAworldcup.com]
Since the high Middle Ages Frankfurt has developed to become a powerful trade and congress city of European rank.

In 1749 Frankfurt's most famous citizen was born: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Between 1815 and 1866 Frankfurt was the centre of the "German Union" as the meeting place of the permanent Union Assembly.

A month after the French Revolution in February 1848, German democrats demanded a constitutional National Assembly.

On 18 May 1848 the delegates from all German countries opened the first free elected German Parliament at Paulskirche. Under Prussian administration, Frankfurt rose to become a large modern city.

During the Weimar Republic the city was a centre of the cultural and scientific avant-garde. In the following years Frankfurt on the Main developed into an international economic and financial metropolis.

The city has been the seat of the European Central Bank since 1998. Almost a third of the inhabitants do not own a German passport. The immigration of people from countries around the globe shapes Frankfurt's international and multi-cultural character.

Frankfurt on the Main is a city which has won distinction for its liberal-mindedness, international orientation and enthusiasm for sports.

Over 140,000 sportsmen and sportswomen are actively engaged in 470 clubs. On the football scene, apart from the three Bundesliga teams - Eintracht Frankfurt, women's teams 1st FFC Frankfurt and FSV Frankfurt - there are currently about 100 clubs with over 650 youth and senior teams in competitive leagues.

Host city: Frankfurt
Main riverbank: An ideal spot for a lunch break or just to kick back and relax.[FIFAworldcup.com]
Frankfurt on the Main is the headquarters of the German Sports Federation (DSB), the National Olympic Committee and the two biggest sports federations, the German Football Association (DFB) and the German Gymnastics Association (DTB), and thus is the hub of German sports organisations.

The city gained special reputation by hosting the Tennis World Championships (ATP Finals) from 1990 until 1995 and the Federation Cup between 1992 and 1994.

Annual major events are the classic cycling event, "Rund um den Henninger Turm", an international show jumping event and the ETA Marathon Frankfurt.