Author: pr-moritz
Last saved by: Sascha Buhr
Company: Bayer
Document comments: V-2024-03-05

32 from Bayer sports clubs to the Summer Games in Paris
•	CEO Bill Anderson bids farewell to #TeamBayer in Paris
•	International and diverse team from Olympic and Paralympic sports
•	Markus Rehm, Leon Schäfer Johannes Floors, Taliso Engel, Marc Lembeck and Kathrin Marchand hopefuls for Paralympic medals

Leverkusen, July 1, 2024 – Exactly 120 years after the founding of the "Turn- und Spielverein der Farbenfabriken vorm. Friedr. Bayer & Co.", the first Bayer sports club in Germany, Bill Anderson, CEO of Bayer AG, said goodbye to 32 athletes from Bayer sports clubs for the Summer Games in Paris. The team is made up of athletes from TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, RTHC Bayer Leverkusen and TSV Bayer Dormagen. They include the European Athletics Vice Champion in the 3,000m steeplechase from Munich 2022, Lea Meyer (TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen), and the reigning Para World Champion and 2021 Paralympic winner in the long jump, Markus Rehm (TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen).

"With Bayer 04 winning the German Soccer Championship and the DFB Cup, 2024 is already a historic year for sports under the Bayer cross. I and many of my colleagues at Team Bayer are keeping our fingers crossed that you will continue this success story in Paris. You have already achieved a lot by taking part in the Games. In addition to sporting success, I wish you many wonderful experiences,” said Bayer CEO Bill Anderson at the farewell event in Leverkusen.

Lea Meyer and Markus Rehm are part of an inclusive, international Bayer team (#TeamBayer) that will compete with medal ambitions for five different nations - Germany, Greece, Japan, Kenya and Switzerland. They will compete in the Olympic and Paralympic competitions in the disciplines of fencing, athletics, rowing, swimming and sitting volleyball.

The focus of interest will initially be on the Olympic participants (July 26th - August 11th). In addition to Lea Meyer (3,000 meter steeplechase), Sophie Weißenberg (heptathlon), Jennifer Montag (4x100m relay), Marike Steinacker (discus), Torben Blech (pole vault) and newcomer Max Dehning (javelin throw) will round out the TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen athletics squad. Alexandra Ndolo (TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen - epee) and Matyas Szabo (TSV Bayer Dormagen - sabre) will compete in the fencing competitions for Kenya and Germany respectively. Julius Christ from RTHC Bayer Leverkusen will compete in the rowing (pair).

From August 28th to September 8th, the Paralympic athletes will be the focus of the world's attention in Paris. TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen traditionally has the largest contingent in the German Para team. The biggest medal hopes are Markus Rehm (long jump), Léon Schäfer (long jump, 100m) and Johannes Floors (100m, 400m). But the other team members Noah Bodelier (long jump), Irmgard Bensusan (100m, 200m), Nele Moos (100m, 400m, long jump), Jule Roß (100m, 200m, 400m, long jump), Lise Petersen (javelin), Tomomi Tozawa (Japan/ 100m, long jump) Stylianos Malakopoulos (Greece/ long jump, 400m) and Elena Kratter (Switzerland/100m, long jump) are also going into the race with good prospects.

Taliso Engel (50m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley) and Maurice Wetekam (100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, 400m freestyle) will compete in the swimming event. 

The field of participants from TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen is completed by the sitting volleyball players Jürgen Schrapp, Dominik Albrecht, Lukas Schiwy, Magnus Fischer, Stefan Hähnlein, Thomas Renger and Mathis Tigler, who will compete in the Paralympic tournament for the German national team. 

Marc Lembeck and Kathrin Marchand (Para 3 mixed foursome with coxswain) from RTHC Bayer Leverkusen have qualified for the Paralympics.

"You have all shown what can be achieved with commitment and willpower. Whether as individuals or as a team, as athletes you are role models not only in sport but also for society as a whole. Fair play, teamwork and diversity have always been important values ​​that you all live by and carry into the world," Bill Anderson said.

#Team Bayer for Paris (26 July – 11 August 2024) 
TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen 
Lea Meyer (3,000 metres steeplechase), Sophie Weißenberg (heptathlon), Torben Blech (pole vault), Max Dehning (javelin throw), Alexandra Ndolo (fencing/épée)

TSV Bayer Dormagen 
Matyas Szabo (fencing/sabre) 

RTHC Bayer Leverkusen 
Julius Christ (rowing/doubles)

#Team Bayer Para for Paris (28 August – 8 September 2024) 
TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen: 
Markus Rehm (athletics/long jump), Leon Schäfer (athletics/long jump & 100m), Johannes Floors (athletics/100m, 400m), Irmgard Bensusan (athletics/100m, 200m), Noah Bodelier (long jump), Irmgard Bensusan (100m, 200m), Nele Moos (100m, 400m, long jump), Jule Roß (100m, 200m, 400m, long jump), Lise Petersen (javelin), Tomomi Tozawa (Japan/ 100m, long jump) Stylianos Malakopoulos (Greece/ long jump, 400m) and Elena Kratter (Switzerland/100m, Long jump) 

Taliso Engel (50m freestyle, 100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley) and Maurice Wetekam (100m breaststroke, 200m individual medley, 400m freestyle) 

Jürgen Schapp, Dominik Albrecht, Lukas Schiwy, Magnus Fischer, Stefan Hähnlein, Thomas Renger and Mathis Tigler (all sitting volleyball) 

RTHC Bayer Leverkusen: 
Marc Lembeck, Katrin Marchand (Para 3 mixed foursome with coxswain)

120 years of Bayer sports:
Bayer is one of the largest sports sponsors and promoters in Germany. 120 years ago, on July 1, 1904, the "Turn- und Spielverein der Farbenfabriken vorm. Friedr. Bayer & Co." was founded as the first Bayer sports club in Germany. 

Today, the company is involved in elite, recreational and disabled sports as well as in promoting young talent and has sponsorship contracts with both individual athletes and teams, such as the professional footballers of Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Notice:

•	You can find more information and background information for your reporting in the document “120 Years of Bayer Sport” on the Bayer press server. 

•	You can also find a photo of the event on the press server. 

Links: 
Bayer Sport Promotion: www.bayer.com/de/gesellschaftliches-engagement/bayer-sportfoerderung-uebersicht 

About Bayer
Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, “Health for all, Hunger for none,” the company’s products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2023, the Group employed around 100,000 people and had sales of 47.6 billion euros. R&D expenses before special items amounted to 5.8 billion euros. For more information, go to www.bayer.com.

Contact for media inquiries:
Nicolas Limbach, Sports&Clubs Bayer AG
E-Mail: Nicolas.limbach@bayer.com 

nl	(2024-0102)

Forward-Looking Statements 
This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.