It is the most famous “red carpet” in the entire equestrian sport, over which the guests of the Media Night traditionally walk on the opening evening of the CHIO Aachen. Together with the co-host Hermann Bühlbecker, the sole proprietor of the “Aachener Printen & Schokoladenfabrik Henry Lambertz GmbH & Co. KG”, the organisers had invited guests to attend the traditional gala evening on Tuesday.

One of the most coveted photo motifs of the evening was the winner of Let’s Dance 2023, Anna Ermakova. The 23-year-old daughter of the tennis legend, Boris Becker, beamed into the cameras together with her mother, Angela Ermakova, before she was warmly welcomed by Hermann Bühlbecker and Stefanie Peters, President of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein. The actor, Heino Ferch; the swimming legend, Franziska van Almsick, and the former skier, Maria Höfl-Riesch, were all delighted to attend. The State Premier of NRW, Hendrik Wüst, was visible impressed before his big appearance at the Opening Ceremony: “The state of North Rhine-Westphalia has a horse on its coat of arms and we have the largest equestrian show in the world here in Aachen. That fits together wonderfully and I always enjoy coming here.”

Together with 38,500 spectators, Wüst and the other guests let themselves be enchanted by the spectacular Opening Ceremony, during the course of which Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal, Princess Anne and the State Premier of NRW jointly officially opened the CHIO Aachen 2023. Then, the guests carried on celebrating in the “Champions’ Circle” until the early hours.