With great anticipation, superstar Dirk Nowitzki attended the opening of the Special Olympics World Games 2023 in Berlin and spent the day with Special Olympics athletes.
"This is my first time at the Special Olympics World Games. Maybe I can give the athletes another push and some extra motivation. Sport brings us all together. That's what Special Olympics is all about here. I hope we will all have a great celebration together."
In good spirits and always with a smile on his face, he answered questions from Louis Kleemeyer, a Special Olympics tennis player and member of the organizing committee, at a press conference.
There was also a surprise guest at the press conference. Olympic fencing champion and also Friend of the Games Britta Heidemann joined the group and warmly welcomed her old acquaintance, Dirk Nowitzki. In addition to friendly words, they shared anecdotes from the 2008 Olympic Games.
The next stop for the German basketball player was visiting the final training of the German 3x3 basketball team. He did not miss the opportunity to join the training and wish everyone good luck for the upcoming competitions.
The visit of the native of Würzburg was rounded off by attending the Opening Ceremony in the Olympiastadion Berlin, where Nowitzki went backstage to greet athletes while also making an appearance on stage during the ceremony.
