At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, the German women’s 3×3 basketball team sensationally won the gold medal. This suddenly elevated the previously little-known sport into the spotlight. The capital of North Rhine-Westphalia is one of the strongholds of 3×3 basketball in Germany – with Rheinmetall as its sponsor. For almost three years, both the women’s team of the Düsseldorf ZOOS and the men’s team of the Düsseldorf LFDY have benefited from the commitment of the traditional corporation. Rheinmetall has signed a sponsorship agreement with D.SPORTS, the state capital’s sports marketing platform. Meanwhile, all eyes of top-level sport are firmly fixed on Los Angeles. In 2028, flag football, a sport similar to American football, will be part of the Olympic programme for the first time. Rheinmetall is supporting four national players on their way to the Olympics in California through the Düsseldorf Firecats women’s team.

WORLD-CLASS LEVEL FROM DÜSSELDORF

Other flagships of the “sports city of Düsseldorf” include the table tennis Bundesliga club Borussia Düsseldorf, with icon Timo Boll as its most prominent athlete in this sport. For the 44-yearold former number one in the world rankings, the Olympic Games in Paris were already the seventh at which he was able to compete for Germany. He looks back on the major sporting event in the neighbouring country with mixed feelings: “It was tough for me that we were kicked out in the quarterfinals. The disappointment right after the match, not being completely satisfied with my own performance, and the fact that all the hard work hadn’t paid off as I’d hoped, was all there”. Paris also marked the end of Boll’s table tennis career in the national team. “The chants overwhelmed me. Even though it was obviously great to get so much feedback from the crowd.” For Alexander Schilling, CEO of Borussia Düsseldorf, the sponsorship is hugely important: “The support of companies such as Rheinmetall enables us to secure the financial resources we need in order to develop the team, sponsor talented players, and stage events”. The table tennis club also says that the partnership with renowned companies strengthens its image and makes it more attractive for other sponsors.

RHEINMETALL SUPPORTS REGIONAL TOP-CLASS SPORT

The Düsseldorf-based technology corporation has been located in the state capital for more than 130 years and is involved in many ways in regional top-class sports. Since the 2024/25 ice hockey season, Rheinmetall has also been a premium partner of Düsseldorfer EG (DEG), one of Germany’s most traditional ice hockey clubs. DEG is currently facing a bitter sporting and economic setback with its relegation from the German Ice Hockey League, of which the club was a founding member. In order to organise the restructuring and manage this difficult phase, the DEG shareholders have appointed two former professionals as new CEOs: Andreas Niederberger and Rick Amann. Both won several German championships with the club. Successful former defender Niederberger firmly believes in DEG’s comeback: “With partners like Rheinmetall at our side, we not only have the economic foundation but also the necessary charisma to provide new impulses”.

The cooperation with Rheinmetall goes beyond traditional sponsorship. Through D.SPORTS and Rheinmetall’s support of top-class sport in the city, the popular sport activities and sporting culture in the city are enhanced. Timo Boll, who wants to be more involved in promoting young talents in future, sums it up: “Sometimes it’s not just talent that counts, but also someone having faith in you. Partners like these are priceless for sport.”

More information about Rheinmetall’s social commitment can be found here.