Roland Frischkorn likes to post selfies on his social media accounts. In the pictures, the chairman of the Frankfurt Sports Association is lifting dumbbells, using the leg press or another machine in the gym. He usually includes the sentence “training is non-negotiable” in his short message. Frischkorn, however, always receives surprised reactions, he says. This is because he likes to photograph himself in a commercial gym almost 200 meters up in the Maintower. For many, this contradicts Frischkorn’s work as a lobbyist for sports clubs. “I always get comments. But we have to get out of this pigeonholing mentality. The Sports Association represents the interests of the clubs, but also mouthpieces for the independent scene or gyms, if it serves the cause of sport and ultimately also provides added value for the clubs,” says the 70-year-old sports official.
With this pragmatism, Frischkorn and his colleagues have developed the European Week of Sports under the slogan “Be active” in Frankfurt into a success story in recent years. From September 23 to 30, all kinds of sports will be presented in Frankfurt in 300 events – classically organized clubs as well as the ECB basketball players in the Hafenpark or the Calisthenics movement, which, according to Frischkorn, is even considering organizing itself into a registered association under the umbrella of the sports association. And the fitness studios can also use the platform – with the offer that allows them to invite people to free trial training throughout the week, as Henrik Gockel announced when presenting the program in his Prime Time fitness studio in the Maintower. “We gym operators are also in favor of working together rather than against each other in our relationship with the clubs, because we all want to get people moving,” says Gockel.
No empirical evidence for the value of sport
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The sports initiative initiated by the EU Commission and coordinated nationwide by the German Gymnastics Association (DTB) is supported in Frankfurt by the state of Hesse with 80,000 euros, which the Olympic dressage champion Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff symbolically presented to Frischkorn. She has been the first honorary state representative for sports since May and, in her own words, sees herself as the “ear of the state government for the concerns of competitive, school and popular sports”. Above all, she wants to place appreciation for volunteers at the center of her work. Linsenhoff justifies her commitment by saying that sport helps to convey democratic values and promote social cooperation. Unfortunately, there is no empirical evidence for this from studies, as Michaela Werkmann, board member of the DTB and sports sociologist, admitted. She referred to examples that should strengthen the conviction, even if the social reality could currently give a different impression despite the increasing number of members of sports clubs.
Sports district head Frischkorn supported Werkmann’s plea for sport by pointing out that he has a good overview of what is happening in Frankfurt – and not just because of the bird’s eye view when looking out of the windows during training at a height of 200 meters. “I can provide countless pieces of evidence from the sports district’s work. We started offering night sports three decades ago,” says Frischkorn. “The police repeatedly confirm that this has contributed significantly to the massive reduction in the number of car break-ins and property damage on Friday nights because we have made an offer to bored young people.” The action week is also intended to offer even more variety in this sense.
The programme of the European Week of Sport can be found at www.beactive-frankfurt.de.
**People Also Ask (PAA) Questions:**
Roland Frischkorn: A Fitness Enthusiast and Advocate for Sports Development
Roland Frischkorn, the 70-year-old chairman of the Frankfurt Sports Association, is an avid fitness enthusiast who loves to post selfies on his social media accounts while working out at Prime Time Fitness in the Main Tower <a href="https://www.instagram.com/frischkornroland/?_d=1%3Futmsource%3Dig_embed”>[[1]]. Frischkorn’s passion for fitness is evident in his posts, where he can be seen lifting dumbbells, using the leg press, or operating other machines in the gym. His message always includes the sentence “training is non-negotiable,” which has become his mantra.
However, Frischkorn’s fitness routine has raised eyebrows among some people, who find it contradictory to his role as a lobbyist for sports clubs. The fact that he chooses to work out in a commercial gym, almost 200 meters up in the Maintower, has sparked surprised reactions. Frischkorn responds to these comments by emphasizing the need to break free from the “pigeonholing mentality” and recognize that the Sports Association represents not only the interests of clubs but also independent gyms and the broader sports scene [[2]].
Frischkorn’s pragmatic approach has contributed significantly to the success of the European Week of Sports in Frankfurt. This initiative, launched under the slogan “Be active,” has brought together various sports disciplines, including classical clubs, ECB basketball players, and the Calisthenics movement, in over 300 events across the city [[3]]. The platform also extends to fitness studios, which can invite people to free trial training sessions throughout the week. This collaborative approach is essential, as Henrik Gockel, owner of Prime Time Fitness, emphasizes: “We gym operators are also in favor of working together rather than against each other in our relationship with the clubs, because we all want to get people moving.”
The European Week of Sports is also supported by the state of Hesse, which has provided 80,000 euros in funding. Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff, the Olympic dressage champion and Hesse’s first honorary state representative for sports, symbolically presented the funds to Frischkorn. Linsenhoff aims to promote appreciation for volunteers and highlight the value of sports in conveying democratic values and fostering social cooperation. Although there is no empirical evidence to support this claim, Frischkorn and sports sociologist Michaela Werkmann agree that sports can have a positive impact on society.
As the Sports Association district head, Frischkorn has a unique perspective on the sports landscape in Frankfurt. He believes that his organization can play a vital role in promoting sports development and bridging the gap between clubs and independent gyms. By doing so, Frischkorn hopes to create a more inclusive and dynamic sports environment that benefits everyone involved.
Roland Frischkorn is an inspiration to many, not only for his dedication to fitness but also for his tireless efforts to promote sports development in Frankfurt. His innovative approach to sports promotion, which encompasses both clubs and independent gyms, is a model for other cities to follow. As the European Week of Sports gains momentum, Frischkorn’s message of inclusivity and collaboration is set to resonate with sports enthusiasts across the region.
Roland Frischkorn: A Champion of Sports and Social Engagement
Roland Frischkorn, the chairman of the Frankfurt Sports Association, is a man of many passions. Apart from his love for sports, he is also an avid social media user, often sharing selfies from his gym sessions in the Maintower, a commercial gym almost 200 meters up. His posts usually accompany the sentence “training is non-negotiable,” which sometimes raises eyebrows due to his work as a lobbyist for sports clubs [[2]]. However, Frischkorn believes that this pigeonholing mentality needs to change, and the Sports Association should represent not only the interests of clubs but also those of the independent scene or gyms, as long as it serves the cause of sport and provides added value for the clubs.
Frischkorn’s pragmatism has contributed to the success of the European Week of Sports, an initiative launched by the EU Commission and coordinated nationwide by the German Gymnastics Association (DTB). In Frankfurt, the event has become a success story, featuring 300 events from September 23 to 30, showcasing various sports, including those of classically organized clubs, the ECB basketball players in the Hafenpark, and the Calisthenics movement, which is even considering organizing itself into a registered association under the umbrella of the sports association [[3]]. Fitness studios like Prime Time fitness studio in the Maintower are also part of the platform, allowing them to invite people to free trial training throughout the week.
The sports initiative is supported in Frankfurt by the state of Hesse with 80,000 euros, symbolically presented to Frischkorn by the Olympic dressage champion Ann Kathrin Linsenhoff, who has been the first honorary state representative for sports since May. Linsenhoff sees herself as the “ear of the state government for the concerns of competitive, school, and popular sports” and wants to place appreciation for volunteers at the center of her work. She believes that sport helps to convey democratic values and promote social cooperation, although there is no empirical evidence for this from studies [[1]].
Frischkorn supported Werkmann’s plea for sport, pointing out that he has a good overview of what is happening in Frankfurt, not just because of his bird’s eye view during training. His commitment to sports and social engagement has earned him the Bundesverdienstkreuz am Bande, a recognition of his outstanding contributions to the field [[1]]. As a sports official, Frischkorn is dedicated to promoting the value of sports, even if there is no empirical evidence for its benefits. His work, along with that of others, is crucial in fostering a culture of appreciation for sports and volunteers in Frankfurt.
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