Online IDO 3–7 August 2020
Impressions and videos

We’ll be dropping the best impressions and video excerpts here for you, which you can access anytime you like. 

Here we go!

© Goethe-Institut

Deutsch LIVE-Event: Deutsch-Olympiade 2020 || Die #IDO kommt zu DIR!

Day 1

DABEI SEIN! THE IDO IS COMING TO YOU. Under this motto, the world’s biggest German language contest starts today – and in a virtual edition for the first time. You can look forward to a festive opening with over 130 contestants from over 60 different countries.

The opening ceremony will include greetings from the head of the Goethe-Institut, some members of the German Bundestag, Dresden’s mayor and the president of the International German Teachers’ Association, as well as a performance by Burkinabé musician Ezé Wendtoin.

2020 IDO opening event (pre-recorded)

Opening address by Johannes Ebert, Goethe-Institut Secretary-General

Opening address by Thomas Erndl, member of the Bundestag and Acting Chairman of the AKBP Subcommittee

Opening address by Dirk Hilbert, Mayor of the City of Dresden

Opening address by Prof. Dr. Marianne Hepp, IDV President

Greetings from Ezé Wendtoin

Ezé Wendtoin’s song “Daheme” and interview for the opening 

Ezé Wendtoin’s song “Lach Mal Mensch”

Arriving in Dresden

Living and working in Dresden, part 1

Day 2

If you’re a breakdance fan and in the mood for some cool new moves, then you’ve come to the right place here. Prize-winning breakdancer Lehmi is going to show us how it's done – in an exclusive live performance from Goethe-Institut in Dresden just for us and the IDO contestants! 

So pop in, join in and dance along with the IDO contestants – in front of your screen.

Breakdance from Dresden (pre-recorded)

Breakdance by the Saxonz: “Life Is a Dream”

Pinmook Ongwibul’s greetings from Thailand

Interview with Dresden's Lord Mayor Dirk Hilbert

Dresden’s Historic Centre

Living and working in Dresden, part 2

Day 3

Join the IDO contestants to enjoy a top-notch virtual concert together, featuring the German band Munich Supercrew.

Exclusive concert by Munich Supercrew (recording)

Angela Schindehütte’s greetings from South Africa 

Dresden’s New Town

Living and working in Dresden, part 3

Day 4

Today, live from the Goethe-Institut Dresden studios: Alix and Matthieu with some engaging conversations, magic and live music from Dresden. So tune in for some surprises – and enchantment!

Magic from Dresden (live recording)

Wessel Wekking’s greetings from the Netherlands

Daria Krywoschejewa’s greetings from Ukraine 

Day 5

The jury have determined the winners of the 2020 Internationale Deutscholympiade (IDO): Eban Ebssa from the US, Zih-An Wang from Taiwan and Keta Kalandadze from Georgia each placed first in their level (A2, B1 and B2, respectively). Furthermore, the award for best teamwork goes to a group of contestants from Mexico, Great Britain, Italy and the Czech Republic. Due to the current travel restrictions and social distancing requirements, this year’s IDO was not held in Dresden, as originally planned, but online, under the motto “DABEI SEIN! The IDO is coming to you”.

Radio report on the 2020 IDO  

Award Ceremony