Bayer – A pioneer in sports promotion

A large group of young soccer players in various colored jerseys (mostly red and blue) celebrates excitedly on a grass field. Many throw their arms up and look enthusiastically upward while multiple soccer balls are tossed into the air, with some appearing motion-blurred in the foreground.

For over 120 years, Bayer has been one of the largest sports sponsors in Germany. The company doesn't engage in traditional sports sponsorship but rather views its support of sports as an investment in society. 

 

This commitment to sports stems from the ideas and wishes of employees who recognized the importance of sport and community. The founding of the first Bayer sports club in July 1904 marked the beginning of a tradition that continues to this day. Bayer sports clubs bear the Bayer name in their club names, thus representing the brand and the company's values. The strongest driving force is undoubtedly the Werkself (Bayer 04 Leverkusen's football team). 

 

Health is at the heart of our mission, "Health for All – Hunger for None." We believe that physical activity is crucial for health and makes a significant contribution to prevention and rehabilitation. Therefore, we are strongly committed to promoting sport and exercise in society.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen: A Bundesliga champion

  • Bundesliga club: Bayer 04 Leverkusen
  • Achievements:
    • National Champion 2024
    • DFB Cup winner 1993 and 2024
  • Identity: The Bayer Cross, our iconic trademark, is embedded in the club logo and symbolizes the strong connection between Bayer and sport. The club stands not only for sporting achievements, but also for the values we represent as a company.
  • Social Media: Bayer 04 Leverkusen generates over 20 million interactions per month and is one of the most successful football clubs on social media. This success is based not on trends, but on approachability, courage, innovation, and high quality. The club reaches over 19 million followers across 20 social media channels, posting approximately 4,000 times a month in five languages.
An aerial night view of the BayArena in Leverkusen: The stadium's distinctive, circular roof is illuminated in blue and stands out prominently. The lettering "BayArena" along with the Bayer logo is clearly visible on the roof structure. The brightly lit pitch and stands can be seen through the open center, while the surrounding area is dark.
The BayArena in Leverkusen is undoubtedly the best-known of Bayer’s sports facilities. The home stadium of Bayer 04 Leverkusen hosts numerous exciting national and international events to the delight of spectators.

Unique facts about our commitment to sports

  • Founding of the first Bayer sports club: July 1904
  • 4 “Bayer” sports clubs
  • 24,000 members
  • 25 sports activities
  • Olympic medals: 70
  • Paralympic medals: 96
  • World Championships: Over 200 medals
  • European Championships: Over 100 titles
  • German Championships: Over 800 titles

These impressive figures show how deeply rooted our commitment to German sports is and how many people we reach and support.

Social engagement and democracy

Bayer views its involvement in sports as an important social contribution, thereby promoting, among other things, democratic values. Our sports clubs provide a space where people from all walks of life can come together. At a time when schools often can no longer offer the same range of opportunities, our clubs are places of community and inclusion, offering children and young people diverse developmental opportunities.

  • High-quality infrastructure: Our sports clubs offer excellent training facilities that are accessible to everyone.
  • Well-trained coaches: Expert guidance for all age groups and performance levels.
  • A wide range of services: Support for children, teenagers, people with disabilities, and older adults.
  • Focus on health: Physical activity is crucial for health and a central element of our mission "Health for All – Hunger for None". This underscores our commitment to prevention and rehabilitation.

Commitment to Parasport

A key aspect of our commitment is supporting para-athletes, which underscores our values of inclusion and equality:

  • Tradition: We have been supporting the German Disabled Sports Association (DBS) since 2000.
  • Promotion: We support competitive and recreational sports in the para-sports departments of TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, RTHC Bayer Leverkusen, and SV Bayer Wuppertal.

Bayer is proud that our commitment to sports not only benefits the athletes but also makes a lasting contribution to society. Together, we create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their athletic goals and stay healthy. Bayer sports clubs are places of democracy where everyone has a place and can become part of a vibrant community.

A para-athletics athlete mid-air during a long jump: The athlete is wearing a red tank top with the Bayer logo and black shorts, competing with a running blade prosthesis on his right leg. He is captured dynamically suspended over the red track, focusing on his landing. The grassy background is softly blurred.
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