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1.06.2021Bayer 04

History: Venue promotion day 1920

On 13 June 1920, ‘Greater Wiesdorf’, encompassing Wiesdorf including the so-called works settlement of Leverkusen on Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee, Bürrig and Manfort are organising a large-scale venue promotion day.
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In the night to 13 June, loyal helpers stick 2,000 placards in visible, unmissable places or hang up huge banners across the main streets of Wiesdorf. The next morning the residents of Wiesdorf can read slogans like: "More venues – less hospitals!," "Create grounds and playgrounds and bathing facilities!", "Open up the gymnasiums," "Danger of drowning bathing in the Rhine!". The week before the demonstration six Wiesdorf residents had drowned in the Rhine.

The gymnastics clubs of the three communities voice their concerns with chants and placards at the demonstration starting at 11 o'clock drawing attention to the lack of sporting opportunities. A march is supported by all the gymnastics clubs bring everybody involved to the Wiesdorf market square for a big demonstration including a lot of children dressed completely in white.

 

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After that there is a sports event on the pitch by the Dhünn. Several thousand spectators ring the pitch in numbers not seen before or afterwards. In the evening there is a big closing event in the great hall of the Erholungshaus to round off a successful day. Within ten years there is a sports facility at SV Wiesdorf (today where the Leverkusen employment office is), the German Gymnastics Club facility of TuS 04 (on the site of the former lorry park behind the Ostermann furniture shop) and the Manfort Stadium. The sportsmen and women were successful.

 

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