Photo credit: © Christian Arbeit

Christian Arbeit, Managing Director Communications, 1. FC Union Berlin

1. The world is changing. How is your world changing? 

Soccer is the dominant sport worldwide. Hardly anything touches people more, lets them come out of themselves and polarises them as much as this game does. At the same time, in view of the astronomical sums involved in football, an increasing alienation becomes noticeable for many people. Is this still my game? Does my opinion still count? What does my voice do in my club? These questions move many football fans and we try to offer these people a home: Yes, you are important! Soccer takes place mainly live in the stadium! It is played for the people who love it and want to be part of it! This is how we at Union see it and this is how we love the game: pure football and very close to the people.

2. The world is changing. How is your world changing? 

Soccer is the dominant sport worldwide. Hardly anything touches people more, lets them come out of themselves and polarises them as much as this game does. At the same time, in view of the astronomical sums involved in football, an increasing alienation becomes noticeable for many people. Is this still my game? Does my opinion still count? What does my voice do in my club? These questions move many football fans and we try to offer these people a home: Yes, you are important! Soccer takes place mainly live in the stadium! It is played for the people who love it and want to be part of it! This is how we at Union see it and this is how we love the game: pure football and very close to the people.

3. What is "typical Berlin" for you? 

Berlin is direct and straight out! It does not have to be a ribbon around everything. That may feel a bit rough for New Berliners and visitors sometimes, but that usually disappears quickly. You simply know quickly where you stand and don't have to puzzle for long. Also quite nice: the ability to improvise. Nothing is as boring as the finished product. True perfection lies in the imperfect. Who would know that better than us Berliners?

4. One more question: What makes the sports metropolis of Berlin so unique? 

There are six major professional clubs that rank among the top performers in their sports in Germany and attract tens of thousands of spectators every week. As if that wasn't extraordinary enough, these clubs work closely together to present Berlin's sport in the best possible way. Joint mass sports programs for children and young people round out the picture: Here, competitors for resources and attention also work in partnership to promote sports in their home cities. This only exists in Berlin.

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Photocredit: © Christian Arbeit