Sport unites – religions, cultures and countries. I am happy that, with the European Maccabi Games, a great and versatile sports event comes to Berlin and unites Jewish sportswomen and sportsmen from 35 countries – with each other and with the city.

Such a big Jewish sports event taking place in Berlin 79 years after the Olympic Games in the National Socialist Germany is an enrichment for Berlin and was not granted for too long. The Maccabi Games in Berlin are a great expression of the German-Jewish reconciliation and the naturalness of Jewish life in Berlin and Germany.

I feel honored to be the sports patron of the European Maccabi Games 2015 squash tournament and to send a message against anti-Semitism and racism and for tolerance with that. I wish all sportswomen and sportsmen a lot of power, success and fun for the competitions!

Anja Schillhaneck

Anja Schillhaneck (*1973) is the sports political speaker of the parliamentary group Bündnis 90/Die Grünen and vice president of the House of Representatives of Berlin.