Christoph Kopp – memorial ceremony in the Coubertin Hall of the Landessportbund Berlin (LSB), Jesse-Owens-Allee.

The memorial ceremony for Christoph Kopp took place in the Coubertin Hall of the Landessportbund Berlin.  More than 200 mourning guests from Germany and abroad had gathered in the Coubertin Hall.

First click on the program sequence in the following pdf:

Program – Christoph Kopp – Memorial ceremony and farewell

The mourners – Photo by: Norbert Wilhelmi

The speakers:

Horst Milde – founder and honorary race director of the BERLIN MARATHON, long-time chairman and founder of the German Road Races.

Idriss Gonschinska – Chairman of the Board of the German Athletics Association (DLV), former DLV head coach and coach in Berlin

Gerhard Janetzky – Founded together with Christoph Kopp „Berlin läuft“ (among others 25 km), former president of the Berlin Athletics Association (BLV)

Frank Lebert: Former managing director of DLV Marketing (DLM)

Jean-Christoph Fourier for his father Jean-Paul Fourier

Thoughts from the sprint women’s team from SCC Berlin

Athlete Statements: Matea Parlov Kostro and Amanal Petros

Mira Szepanski – daughter of Christoph Kopp

Horst Milde:

„Dear family of Christoph Kopp , dear relatives, honored mourners, dear friends of running and athletics,we are gathered here today in the Coubertin Hall at the Landessportbund to bid farewell to Christoph Johannes Kopp.

Christoph passed away on April 28 at the age of 75. We mourn the loss of an athlete and sports comrade, a sports official and manager, but above all a dear friend and a warm-hearted person.

In consultation with the family, I would now like to try to recall for all of us something of what Christoph did for sport during his life, especially in athletics and here in the international running movement.

I am aware that this can never be done completely in the sense of a chronology, but at most in excerpts.

However, I hope that in this way many of the mourners gathered here will be able to say goodbye to Christoph in their own personal way, because their own experiences with Christoph will be recalled and will continue to shine in silence.

In any case, while preparing this little speech of mourning, I felt as if Christoph was suddenly very close to me again … as in the 50 years in which I was fortunate to work with him … as at our last meeting in March of this year in Dresden in a relaxed atmosphere with a happy Christoph „in the middle“ … and as in our telephone conversations shortly afterwards in April in the hospital, where we discussed future plans for the running scene, without knowing that I would hear Christoph’s familiar voice for the last time.

With Christoph, international elite road running loses its most renowned and distinguished official and manager in the German-speaking world. No one was as recognized as Christoph, no one had as much experience as Christoph.

The international athletics federation „World Athletics“ honors Christoph Kopp as „one of the most influential European running managers“. In an obituary, the European athletics federation „European Athletics“ calls Christoph „legendary“ and one of the most influential road running managers in Europe.

What Christoph has achieved here alone in almost 40 years can hardly be put into words. We can only be infinitely thankful to him for it.

The sports editor Jörg Wenig writes in his detailed obituary at one point: „Christoph Kopp was one of the friendliest, most helpful and reliable people you could meet in your life“.

Basically, there is nothing more to add to characterize Christoph Kopp as a person.

Christoph was born in Berlin on December 14, 1947, but grew up in Schwenningen at the Neckar. There he turned athletics as a child. In the Turngemeinde Schwenningen he was active as a sprinter and later even as a decathlete, and at the age of 18 he took his training supervisor’s certificate.

Back in Berlin, he became head coach of the track and field athletes at the Berliner Turnerschaft and moved in this capacity to the Charlottenburg Sports Club (SCC Berlin) at the end of 1974. Here he became sports manager in 1979, and here he was chairman of the athletics section for three years in the mid-1990s.

When the 8th BERLIN MARATHON moved from Grunewald to downtown Berlin in 1981, starting at the Reichstag, Christoph was there too. In the official program booklet his name is written with the addition: „invitation“, i.e. he invited well-known runners. 1981 was practically the starting signal for his later career as a manager.

Even before that, he he gathered some early experience at the Berlin cross-country race at Teufelsberg, next to the ISTAF, the most important track and field event in the insular city of Berlin, where he first invited the national elite such as Manfred Letzerich, Lutz Philipp, Christoph Herle – but also then later Grete Waitz, Cornelia Bürki, Edmundo Warnke or Emil Puttemans and other internationally known male and female athletes.

He was the man at my side. I could rely on him – yes, I could rely on Christoph. He built all the elite races of the SCC. He created connections, some of which the race still benefits from today. In sporting terms, he developed the BERLIN MARATHON into one of the most high-profile races in the world.

His trademark was the checkered motorcycle helmet – as it stands here – when he accompanied the races on his motorcycle with the stopwatch in his hand.

If today we look again at the long list of marathon winners from Berlin with the names from the beginning with Karel Lismont from Belgium, Suleiman Nyambui and Alfredo Shahanga from Tanzania, Renata Kokowska from Poland up to the legendary engagement of Steve Moneghetti from Australia and Uta Pippig at the „reunification marathon“ on September 30, 1990, then we may also point out with gratitude and pride that these were the achievements of Christoph Kopp.

In 1997, the „party“ came to an abrupt end, writes Jörg Wenig in his obituary. The reason: Christoph Kopp was simply too successful at the BERLIN MARATHON! With nine runners under 2:10, the race had produced unbelievable results for those days, which then caused economic difficulties for the organizer.

The SCC Berlin broke up with Christoph Kopp after the marathon in 1997, which became a stroke of luck for other organizers. Because Christoph gradually took over the role of elite coordinator at more and more important German but also foreign races.

For example, Christoph was entrusted with the sporting direction of the Frankfurt Marathon, the Hanover Marathon and in Düsseldorf, as well as the Paderborn Easter Run, the Würzburg Residence Run. Munich, Dresden, Hamburg and even Kiev can be mentioned as cities of further races, where Christoph put together the elite fields with his ISS team.

The organizers‘ association German Road Races honored him in 2018 and declared him a „contemporary witness of running“. Likewise, the Berlin Runners Meeting 2018 proceeded with the honor for him. For German Road Races, Christoph’s balancing nature and self-assured calmness in the face of the most difficult situations at the  events was a characteristic of his character.

In Berlin, Christoph not only worked for the marathon and provided his expertise or used his multi-layered international network. In the mid-eighties, Christoph was also on hand with appealing elite runners for the French Run, the „25 km de Berlin“ with a start in front of and finish in the Olympic Stadium.

In 1989 there was a top sporting highlight of the extra class here – again thanks to Christoph: He had succeeded in engaging the marathon Olympic champion of 1988, the Portuguese Rosa Mota, for the 25 km … she won with a course record of 1:25:46.

Between 1999 and 2004, Christoph served as honorary president of the Berlin Athletics Association (BLV) . Among other things, he was heavily involved in Berlin’s ultimately successful bid to host the 2009 World Championships in Athletics.

Christoph has shaped the rise of the German men’s marathon like no other. As a manager, he worked for around 50 athletes until the end, including Alina Reh and Germany’s marathon record holder Amanal Petros, who once came to Bielefeld from Eritrea and was discovered here as a talent.

I would like to mention a special episode from our cooperation, which could only be experienced with Christoph. I was a guest for some time in the camp of Kip Keino, the Olympic champion over 1500m of Mexico 1968. Christoph stayed – as so often – at training camps in Kenya. This opportunity was not to be missed: We invited all Kenyan winners of the BERLIN MARATHON and the Berlin 25km race – and there were many – to a meeting at Kip Keino’s place. And they came in droves, it was a meeting of a special kind. Everyone was happy to meet with us. Something like this could only be realized with Christoph.

There are countless other known and unknown stories of Christoph’s activities: from thank-you trips for helpers to Budapest, training camp trips with the SCC to Cuba. The memories are inexhaustible – and some we learn only now.

Christoph was officially recognized manager of the world federation World Athletics. Here he operated highly successfully with his team from the „International Sport Service“ (ISS), which will now be continued by his son Philipp and his long-time employee Sandra Wolter, certainly in Christoph’s spirit and hopefully at least as successfully.

Christoph lived for his sport. He was always available around the clock. And he by no means always focused on the purely sporting side of things. Christoph was always interested in the people behind the athletes – whether it was during the brief small talk that he always sought, or during extensive social events, including parties on the eve of a race well into the night in the attic of his Berlin home, as was now reported in an obituary.

Christoph was also a member of the executive committee of the Berlin State Sports Association (Landessportbund Berlin) from 2000 to 2004. Since the late 1980s, he led the Willi-Kohlmey-Kreis – the circle of friends of Berlin athletics – as chairman. His energy was almost inexhaustible.

In this respect, we should think about how we can keep the name of Christoph Kopp alive here in Berlin in honor and with gratitude for his work in the future.

Christoph did not spare himself in all his engagements. He was a positive madman for athletics and running. And he still had a lot of plans. In this respect, his life’s work remains unfinished. But we can all help to ensure that this life’s work is not forgotten. That is why we have come together here in the Coubertin Hall.

We will not and do not want to forget Christoph.

Horst Milde

Christoph Kopp (left) and Horst Milde at the Berlin Cross Country Race – Photo: Bernd Hübner

Idriss Gonschinska:

Dear family Kopp, dear relatives, dear mourners, we say goodbye to Christoph Kopp today.

Nothing is for eternity and everything is forever. „Reinhold Bertsch“

I think most of you – maybe even all of you – will agree with me that with Christoph we have lost a person who was truly unique.

„Are you afraid of death?“ the little prince asked the rose. „But no, I have blossomed and used my powers as much as I could. And given away love a thousand times over,“ was the answer of the rose in Antoine de Saint Excupery’s wonderful work „The Little Prince“. Christoph Kopp acted like the rose. Always competent, warm-hearted, reliable, friendly. He was never just a business partner, but always a friend whose great passion was sport. His life was shaped by athletics and especially by elite running. Christoph selflessly always did everything he could to help and support athletes in any way he could. And this until just before his death.

Immediately after the fall of the Berlin Wall, he helped many athletes from the new states, for example middle-distance runner Jens-Peter Herold or marathon runner Uta Pippig, to continue or develop their careers under the new circumstances.

Christoph had a national and international network like few others, but he always remained down-to-earth and had an open ear for others, reasons for his great popularity not only among the friends of running who came to his funeral service today.

As an elite field coordinator, he oversaw a large number of major international running events with great success. In these races, which he organized over 40 years, countless records, course best times, personal records, national bests, European and even world records fell. In 2010, he put together a 25km field in Berlin that produced something unique: it was the first time that both world records were broken simultaneously in a road race (Sammy Kosgei and Mary Keitany). A special moment for Christoph was in Frankfurt in 2011, when Wilson Kipsang missed the marathon world record by just four seconds.

In the German elite field, Christoph played a major role in the upswing of the men’s marathon. It was he who planned those marathon races in Frankfurt in 2014 and 2015, in which Arne Gabius first became the first German runner in many years to run a time under 2:10 hours and then, a year later, broke the age-old German record.

In recent years, Christoph has increasingly worked as an athlete manager.

In Germany’s great success at the 2022 European Championship marathon, five of six men and four of six women came from his management. The women won the team classification, the men came in second.

With his ISS team, he looked after around 50 male and female athletes, including for example Germany’s marathon record holder Amanal Petros or also Alina Reh, as well as some top international runners such as Croatian marathon runner-up Matea Parlov Kostro or Ethiopian Tsigie Gebreslama, who won the silver medal at the World Cross Championships.

Christoph has always been a bold trendsetter when it comes to supporting elite athletes. As part of the cooperation of his successful LG SCC Nike project, I had the privilege to work with him.

In 2020 and 2021, his ISS team was decisively involved in almost all major German elite races during the Corona Lockdowns. The „Berlin 10k Invitational“ in June 2020 was the first international and competitive 10k race worldwide since the beginning of the Corona pandemic.

Half a year ago, Christoph celebrated his 75th birthday in Cuba. He wanted to save a bigger celebration in Berlin for his 80th – unfortunately, he didn’t make it.

I first met Christoph as a young coach in Berlin in the early 90s. And since then he has accompanied me in challenging situations as an important advisor and warm-hearted friend.

At the end, I like to quote the „Little Prince“ once again: „And if you have comforted me, you will be glad you knew me.“ We are all glad and grateful to have known you, dear Christoph. And that remains in the memories of the many special moments far beyond today.

Nothing is for eternity and everything is forever. „Reinhold Bertsch“

Idriss Gonschinska

Gerhard Janetzky

„Dear family Kopp, dear mourners, hello Christoph,
I am sure you are watching down here. And you should not let the opportunity pass by, because there are a lot of people here who accompanied you on your way and whom you accompanied.

We met about 20 years ago, you were the president of the Berlin Athletics Association (BLV) – 1999 to 2004 – and you had just helped Berlin to bid for the 2005 World Championships in Athletics in Helsinki. The Berlin Senate had made 16 to 17 million available, and you had done the preparatory work.

It didn’t end up in 2005, but in 2009, because in the meantime the topic of the ISTAF came up. The ISTAF had been declared insolvent, exactly on the eve of the decision in Nairobi, and it had then become four years later with the World Championships in Berlin. And when after 2002 some people tried to rebuild the ISTAF, Werner Gegenbauer was one of them, I could also help a bit and you were our partner in the Berlin Athletics Association (BLV) until 2004.

During this time we worked well together and the ISTAF was successful again in the Olympic Stadium from 2004 and the idea was, if once a year we have a big event in September, what do we do with the rest of the time? We had a good team together and for that it was not enough to have an event only once a year. So we came up with the idea of doing something with road running.
We deliberately wanted to go into niches that the then „top dog“ SCC had not yet filled. And it was clear from the beginning that in contrast to what Christoph usually did, namely being a service provider for others, we wanted to work as partners. So we founded „Berlin läuft GmbH“ in 2007, together with Jörg Wenig. And the three of us tried to set accents in Berlin.

And coincidence played a role here, because just as the ISTAF was rescued from bankruptcy, the 25 km race – already mentioned a few times today – was also an event that was available. We were able to continue this run from the Berlin Athletics Association and so Christoph and I then took over this race, which at that time was still strongly influenced by NIKE. We then found a new partner in Mathias Kohls, who is also here today, and renamed this race „BIG25“ after the sponsor at the time.
It was clear to us that we didn’t want to have just one race, but several. So in a very short time we had six, seven, eight races – people’s races without big elite participation – like the „VOLVO Tierparklauf“, through the zoo in Berlin, but also through the Bundesgartenschau in Britz or the race at the Berlin airport. All of these were races without any elite athlete participation.

Christoph Kopp (r.) and Gerhard Janetzky at a press conference 2009 BIG/Berlin 25km – Photo: Victah Sailer

But his, your and our heart is of course in the races with an elite field. This was once the „ASICS Grand 10“: Shortly after the World Championships in Berlin, this was originally supposed to be on the original course of the World Championships, but we had then decided to make an original course, according to the motto „Let’s run where no one else can run“. And so we ran about two kilometers of the 10 kilometers through the Berlin Zoo.
That was not only „fun“, but I think we missed the world record for 10 km in one year only by four seconds because of the big headwind on Kantstraße. That would have been another world record, which then took place – as I said twice before – in 2010. With 1:19:53 for Mary Keitany, who was recruited by Christoph at that time, quasi as preparation for her New York City Marathon. She used the rarely run distance of 25 km to set a world record, as did Sammy Kosgei with 1:11:50. This was the only time that two world records took place simultaneously in an official race.

This was certainly one of the highlights of Christoph’s athletic life, and we did a lot of things afterwards. As partners, we worked very well together until we then sold the company in 2014. From then on, we exchanged ideas about the old times – we had really good old times, we had a lot of fun together, with different offices. And Christoph was not only the expert in road running and elite running, he was always in good friend, a good advisor on various topics; be it in stadium athletics or in road running.

Christoph, that was a good time. I thank you that I was allowed to spend a part of it in your circle of friends“.

Gerhard Janetzky

Frank Lebert:

„Christoph, like a rock in the waves“.

Frank Lebert, who was the managing director of the German Athletics Marketing (DLM) for many years, described Christoph Kopp in his address as a rock in the wave.

Lebert recalled how, working for the sporting goods company Nike, he and Christoph started a project with the goal of making Berlin and SC Charlottenburg – as organizer of the Berlin Marathon – the center of German running.

At that time, Uta Pippig also started for SCC Berlin.

But the project, named LG SCC Nike Berlin, ultimately failed. „Christoph, however, remained unimpressed, he just kept going and started other projects,“ Frank Lebert recalled. „Christoph was just always optimistic“.

Frank Lebert

Jean-Christoph Fourier for his father Jean-Paul Fourier

Good afternoon everyone.
My father asked me to read you a few words about Christoph.

Greetings from Kenya.

Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the funeral services for the death of the great Christoph Kopp. However, I would like to take this opportunity to share a few memories of my dear friend.

Almost exactly forty years ago, I traveled through the GDR to Berlin with an athlete who was to participate in the BERLIN MARATHON. It was a memorable trip; not only because my athlete Karel Lismont won the race, but also because I met Christoph.

For the first time, I experienced the warm welcome and immediate helpfulness that are among Christoph’s best-known characteristics. I liked his unique character and struck up a friendship with him that would last until his sad passing on April 28 of this year.

Throughout the years, Christoph and I met often at major marathons and other track and field events – often at the same lodging. Most recently, we met at the Frankfurt Marathon in 2022 and the Hannover Marathon in 2023.
Between these meetings, we were in frequent contact by mail.

On April 9, Easter Sunday, Christoph found the strength to send me greetings on my birthday despite considerable pain in his foot and an upcoming surgery. He congratulated me on making it through another year.

I was very touched that he could remember me at that time. He gave me a clear picture of his health. It was very disturbing that he was suffering and that he knew his chances of making it through another year were not good. I said what I could to comfort and encourage him – but no words were enough.

Christoph and I experienced a lot together and had many great moments – especially after the sporting events – like the night I will never forget when we were looking for cold beers in Qatar.

He also influenced my life in many ways, but two things stand out. First, he was very supportive of my venture to start a tourist lodge in Kenya.

I remember that in 2000, when he was in Nairobi as part of the Berlin delegation bidding for the World Cup, he decided to travel inland to visit me. At that time, construction was still going on. He was concerned that the work was progressing very slowly. He called my staff and told them that he would return with his family at Christmas 2002 and that it was imperative that the official opening take place then.

In typical Christoph fashion, everything went as planned – – just like his many top sporting events.

Kerio View Lodge opened on Boxing Day 2002 with Christoph and his family as guests of honor. Christoph was our most important member. Later, Christoph visited me frequently in Africa and often brought friends with him.

Second, at a point in my life when I had to make a big decision, I turned to Christoph for advice. The big question was whether or not I should have a first child at the advanced age of 53. I didn’t consult anyone else on this secret and delicate subject.

I posed the question to him at the 2001 Monaco Marathon, and he strongly endorsed the idea and dismissed my doubts. I insisted that he would be the godfather of the future child.
I took Christoph’s advice and the future child became a reality and is named Jean Christoph – and he is now standing before you as you read, or rather hear, this letter.

As for the future, I sincerely hope that all of Christoph’s relatives will live a life of prosperity and happiness. In particular, I would encourage Philipp to follow in his father’s footsteps at ISS Berlin and in the world of athletics, together with Sandra – and to do so with the same passion.

Warm greetings from myself, John Williams, brother Colm O Connell, many other friends and the staff at Kerio View.
Here in Kenya, we will celebrate with you the life of this very special man – just as he would have wanted; with many liquid refreshments and toasts to the special memories!

Cheers
Jean-Paul Fourier

Thoughts from the sprint women’s team that Christoph coached at BT and SCC.

With Christoph we lose a friend who was not only an excellent coach, but we also appreciated him very much as a person. In 1975, when he moved from Berliner Turnerschaft to Sport Club Charlottenburg, almost all of us went with him because we trusted him.

The team also had many successes because of him.However, Christoph not only took care of the talented athletes, but also of everyone else and treated everyone equally and encouraged them. He always had an open ear for us.

Christoph was an organizational talent. From training to competition, he had everything under control. We like to remember the nice training camps – like in France or in the Schwarzwald – which he had also organized.

But we didn’t only train hard, we could also party well together. Christoph was a very companionable person. Even if we were not in a good mood or had a small form low, Christoph always knew how to motivate us.

Thank you Christoph for the great time we had with you.

The sprint women’s team from Sport Club Charlottenburg (SCC Berlin)

(f. l.): Marianne Kruse, Irena Kopp, Jutta Nagel, Annette Henk, Renate Werner, Horst Milde), Carola Brill, Karin Stiehl, Brigitte Lenz, Michaela Spiethoff

Statements of the athlete: Matea Parlov Kostro and Amanal Petros

Matea Parlov Kostro, marathon silver medalist at the European Championships and winner of the Hannover Marathon, the last race that Christoph directed:

„When I first met Christoph, I was overwhelmed by his incredible energy. Christoph was a very good manager, but also a wonderful person. I especially remember the situation when he had no problem going with me to the store to buy the equipment for the race because my luggage was lost. He was always helpful and put the interest of the runners above his own.

We will always remember you!

On behalf of your runners Matea Parlov Kostro

Amanal Petros, German marathon record holder and fourth in the European Championships.

„Dear Christoph, here is your Amanal.

If there was one word to describe Christoph, it would be „dedicated“. He was dedicated to his family, his friends, his work and his community.

Christoph was highly respected in the sports community and helped many athletes boost their careers. I was fortunate to be able to say that I am one of the athletes Christoph worked with.

I couldn’t have asked for a more hardworking and determined manager. Personally, Christoph has influenced my life in the best possible way.

He was there for me at the beginning of my career, motivating and encouraging me to work hard and stay

stay focused. He was there to celebrate all my successes as an athlete – and I’m not sure I could say I would be where I am today without him.

Christoph was like family to me.

The Tigray War was one of the hardest times of my life. I had no way of knowing if my family was alive or not, but Christoph stepped in and was like my family.

He gave me encouragement, love, hope and suppor

One of the funniest memories I have of Christoph was when I raced the German record in the marathon in Valencia, in Spain, and then he taught me how to open a beer bottle with two bottles and then how to pour the beer properly.

He was a man of many talents.

Dear Christoph you were not only my manager it was not always about finances but also about friendship.

I will miss you very much but never forget you.

In my mother tongue they say: (Geta Be Mengste Semayat Yewarska) – እግዚአብሔር በመንግስተሠማያት ያኑርክ

It means : „God bless you in heaven“.

I wish the whole family of Christoph much strength in this time of grief. Know that there is a great community that always loved Christoph and will always be there for you.

Your Amanal Petros

Mira Szepanski:

„My charming family, dear friends and companions of Christoph – I am delighted that you and you have come here today to pay your last respects to our father. I would now like to say a few brief words to him.

I wish, Dad, to find the right words today and that I reach out to the people here now just as you always did and I hope that you look down on us proudly with a heavenly beer. Proud of everything that -you- have created.

When I think of you, I see you in front of me on a stage, entertaining those around you. How you fill the room with your presence every time you move. Pride is a feeling I associate with you. In the past, when I had to participate in sporting events to see you 😉 – it was your moderation that spurred me on – Yes, that’s my dad who can be heard over the loudspeakers right now, who is there at the finish line in his suit with his sunglasses, headphones and that concentrated look welcoming the runners. I also like to remember the situation in which this concentrated look was directed at me, when I once came running towards you at the Stienitzsee Open in great joy and instead of looking me in the face, you were looking for the time chip on my shoe and were rather very surprised instead of understanding that it was not a runner in this situation…

Love it or Leave it – this is a phrase that in my eyes suited you very well, because the kind of love you gave in your life was certainly not the one that one might have expected. Your heart was for sports and it was from the first day to your last. Shortly before you left for good, you asked me in your sickbed to check your cell phone, because your screen was not turning and you could only read the sports news correctly with a landscape screen… Yes, and – with your hopeful eyes, you put the thought into the room, whether you could perhaps still participate in one or the other event. Hope, confidence, courage – these values have accompanied you more than ever in your last days.

Besides sports, of course, there was never much time for things that perhaps others would consider especially important in their lives – family. And yet, you made it and even created a very large family – just by the way….

Thank you. Thank you dad for giving me this life. These people that I can call my family.

And even though your physical presence as a father was never your strong suit, I keep you in my heart as one of the most lovable people.

You always saw only the good in everyone.

That you shared your last moment with me will forever be the greatest gift, the most beautiful honor.

I love you.

Mira

Arrangement of the memorial service: Martin Seeber with team, Jörg and Andrea Wenig, Helmut Winter, John Kunkeler, Horst and Sabine Milde, Philipp and Irena Kopp

Matea Parlov Kostro – Photo: ISS – Philipp Kopp

Photos, unless otherwise indicated: Norbert Wilhelmi

Thanks to the pastor Michaela Fröhling for the connecting words.

Thanks to the Landessportbund Berlin (LSB) for making the Coubertin Hall and the adjacent premises available for the commemoration ceremony.

Picture loop with photos from the sporting and private life of Christoph Kopp: