Overview

• Michael Ballack, former captain of Germany's national football team, will be awarded the European Cultural Prize on Friday evening in Chemnitz.
• The ceremony will take place at the Chemnitzer Opernhaus, coinciding with Chemnitz’s designation as a 2025 European Capital of Culture alongside Nova Gorica.
• Ballack is recognized for his illustrious football career, which began in Chemnitz, and his dedication to societal responsibility and engagement.
• The event will also honor other prominent figures, including Katarina Witt, Matthias Schweighöfer, DJ Purple Disco Machine, and the band Alphaville, for their cultural and social contributions.
• Reiner Calmund, a former football executive, will deliver the laudatory speech for Ballack, emphasizing his influence as a symbol of success, humility, and responsibility.