The Olympic Tower rises against the white and blue Munich sky like an exclamation mark. At 291.28 metres, the tallest edifice in town provides the best 360-degree view of Bavaria’s state capital. On a clear day, you can even see as far as the Alps – a view that never ceases to delight!
From February 22 to 25, 2018, a luminous display of light and colour hinted at a big birthday: The Olympic Tower was officially opened 50 years ago on February 22, 1968. Back in the day, it was simply referred to as the “TV Tower”. It was not until the Olympic Games in 1972 that it was renamed. At its feet the unique roof canopies of the Olympic sports facilities fan out, engulfed by the Olympic Park, one of Munich’s many green oases.
The Olympic Tower also symbolises the city’s passion for sports. In addition to professional sports, a dense infrastructure promotes amateur sports and young talents. You can literally feel the athletic spirit of the Olympic Park as you watch cyclists, joggers and skaters do their laps, rowers populate the Olympic Lake and ice-skaters practice figures at the Olympic Ice Sport Centre. The Olympic grounds offer an inspiring atmosphere for incentives and team-building exercises, such as outdoor team training or an interactive iPad rally. In the SoccArena, team spirit comes alive when one player selflessly slides the other a goal-scoring pass – talk about an impressive kick for your business.
Thrill seekers can literally get in over their heads, climbing the canopy roof of the Olympic Stadium. Lead by guides and secured with climbing harness, rope and carabiners groups can scramble over the breath-taking construction of steel mesh and acrylic glass sheets for two hours of thrill, taking in the Munich skyline from surprising angles. Saving the best for last, participants traverse the arena zipping along Europe’s longest Flying Fox or rappel down 40 metres towards the sacred green of the stadium.
Even beyond the Olympic grounds, Munich awaits with unusual incentive ideas. Ever dared “indoor skydiving”? A high-tech wind tunnel at the Jochen Schweizer Arena on the outskirts of Munich fulfils the dream of weightless soaring. Experienced flight instructors brief the skydivers beforehand, of course. The Jochen Schweizer Arena also presents “citywave“, Germany’s first indoor surfing experience and a warmer alternative to the Eisbach river, a popular surfing spot at the Haus der Kunst art museum. The wave height can be seamlessly adjusted and the water is kept at a cosy 24 to 26°C.
All this sounds way too strenuous? Enter Roberto Beach and Beach38. Several tons of pristine white sand invite to all kinds of beach sports from volleyball to yoga. And extreme relaxation in a deck chair, with music and excellent drinks. Summer feeling all year round.
The Allianz Arena near Fröttmaning is a dream destination for avid soccer fans – be they FC Bayern devotees or not. The vibe at the matches is legendary and the fan clubs’ choreographies are intoxicating. Guided tours will give you a whiff of the experience, as will company events staged at the FC Bayern Museum. They can be combined with exclusive tours and visits to VIP areas and dressing rooms.
A must for MICE groups keen on sports are uniquely tailored stadium tours in FC Bayern team busses to check out training venues and sports facilities in and outside of Munich. The getaway trips can lead as far as the Olympic ski jumping hill in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Upon request they can be escorted by sports celebrities. Many decorated Olympians, world champions or Champions League greats have close ties to Munich, as in their place of birth, residence or career milestones.
Another option for inspirational encounters with former and current sports giants is welcoming them to team events held at the Olympic Stadium as keynote speakers or celebrity guests. Their personal experience in professional sports gives them a compelling take on topics like success, motivation, balance or team spirit.
You can stroll or cycle through Munich’s greenery for miles and miles. The rivers Isar and Würm meander through the city like botany-lined life veins. The two rivers as well as boulevards and large and smaller parks make for an idyllic network of pathways for pedestrians, cyclists and runners. Guided bicycle tours are offered with an array of possible themes, from classic sightseeing to a beer garden rally.
The citizens of the Isar have got used to the sight of groups on undulating Segways by now. The cycle path network that has become denser and better over the years also includes the outskirts of Munich, allowing for many beautiful excursions by bike. For good measure, this also suggests sustainability, an important factor for many event planners devising their programme.