Kieler Woche: Promoting Germany's application for Olympic Host

The Kieler Woche 2015 is characterised by the Olympic rings. With the world's largest sailing event, Kiel will be promoting Germany's application for the Olympics 2024 as Hamburg's partner for hosting the sailing competitions.

Hamburg's Senator for the Interior and Sport Michael Neumann and Kiel's Lord Mayor Dr. Ulf Kaempfer did demonstrate their excitement for the Olympics 2024 in Hamburg and Kiel at the Kieler Woche press conference on Tuesday, 19. May. "We are pleased to have Kiel on board", said Neumann at the Elbpanorama overlooking the city of Hamburg. For the City of Hamburg, Kiel is a strong partner, representing the sailing sport internationally, explains the Senator.

The German Sailors' Association DSV (Deutscher Segler-Verband) is following the same thought. "The DSV is convinced, that the decision for Kiel as the venue for the Olympic and Paralympic sailing competitions will contribute to the success of Hamburg's application for the Olympics 2024/2028", stated Gerhard Suess, general secretary of the DSV. Following the recommendation of an evaluation committee, which included representatives of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB), the City of Hamburg and the DSV, the DOSB took the decision in April this year and nominated Kiel as the partner city for Hamburg for the application for the Olympics 2024. A main argument for the decision is, that the world-famous Kieler Woche improves the chances for the German application to succeed internationally.

"The state capital Kiel is looking forward to face the adventure of an application for the Olympics together with Hamburg. Kiel's sailing events are world class and will help to push the German application with great commitment and support", explained the Lord Mayor of the state capital of Schleswig-Holstein, Ulf Kaempfer, who can surely rely on the federal state's support. Only a few days ago, the premier of the state Schleswig-Holstein, Torsten Albig, announced to support the official sailing venue Kiel as the partner for Hamburg and set "prize money of the state of Schleswig-Holstein" for the Olympic and Paralympic boat classes.

The prize money will be 3,000 Euro for rank one, 2,000 Euro for rank two and 1,000 Euro for rank three - another stimulus for the top sailors to come to Kiel. For the Kieler Woche 2015, this means a maximum sum of 60,000 Euro. It is another component to internationally place the application of Hamburg and Kiel. Kaempfer welcomed the state's backup and promised a city, which is enthusiastic about sailing, where citizens, economy and politics support the application.

And in its 133. edition, the Kieler Woche will again deliver a fireworks display of the sailing sport. With highlights like the appearance of the Audi Sailing Team Germany and the ISAF qualifiers for the Worlds in the junior dinghy 420, the MOD70 showing up and also the smallest Laser 4.7, the battle of the historical America's Cup 12mR class and the speed challenge between kiters, surfers and foiling cats, Paralympic medallists and the tall ship parade - the federal state capital of Schleswig-Holstein once again offers the whole variety of the sailing sport - a genuine promotion of the application for the Olympics 2024 or 2028 in Hamburg and Kiel.

With Dirk Ramhorst being the new head of organisation of the Kieler Woche regattas, the partners of the Kieler Woche, Audi, HSH Nordbank and SAP as well as the general secretary of the DSV Gerhard Suess, DSV sport director Nadine Stegenwalner and the athletes Jule and Lotta Goerge (49er FX/Kiel), who have good prospects for an Olympic medal, were already thinking about the Kieler Woche.

Kiel will show a potential, that makes sailing essential for the Olympics - with a unique dimension of media work, immense know-how on the water and a lot of services provided ashore.

Sailing in Kiel will come to live not just on the water but also ashore - that's Audi's motto at the Kieler Woche. "A first place to go for the visitors will be the "Audi and SAP Sailing Arena" at the Olympic marina Schilksee, including a stage for interviews and prize giving ceremonies", says Johannes Polgar, project leader for sailing in the department of trade fairs, events and sports marketing at AUDI AG. Being a partner of the Kieler Woche in the sixth year, AUDI furthermore supports the TV channel "Kieler Woche.TV", which is bringing the sailing action to the fans with presentations, most modern camera technology and GPS tracking.

Another partner of the Kieler Woche, SAP, is making another step in presenting the sailing sport to the spectators ashore. "With the Race Committee App, fans can view the official race results from all race courses almost in real-time in the SAP LiveCenter. Maybe one of the most interesting innovations will be the display of the perfect course, SAP Sailing Analytic", stated Milan Cerny (SAP Sailing). The design was optimised and navigation for the user is now easier. At the daily debriefing session, experts and TV presenters will recapitulate the happening on the water and explain it. The SAP Sail Cube, which is normally following the Extreme 40 series around the world, will be located in Kiel.

For the HSH Nordbank it is the twelfth year being a partner of the Kieler Woche. Frank Kranke, who is responsible for the sponsoring at the HSH Nordbank, presented the HSH Race Repair Service as well as the campaign "Good for Kids", for which premium ribbons are provided for the first time. The boot Duesseldorf will be presenting itself in Kiel at the boot Duesseldorf Lounge, providing good weather together with WetterWelt.

The start could not have been any better for Dirk Ramhorst, the new man in charge of organisation. Even before his official assumption of office the decision was made, that Kiel would be Hamburg's partner for the application for the Olympics in 2024/2028. "This means an enormous advance for us and we are of course very happy about that", says the 47-year old. Stick to tradition, but also go for new innovations, that's Dirk Ramhorst's premise. Now it's all about transforming the euphoria and the current possibilities into sustainability.

Even if the attention of the national German sailing team is drawn to this year's World and European Championships as well as the qualifiers for the Olympics, the Kieler Woche as the home territory will of course be in the racing schedule of the Audi Sailing Team Germany.

In the 49FX, there are even four crews with chances for a ticket to Rio. The crews Tina Lutz/Susann Beucke (Munich/Kiel), Victoria Jurczok/Anika Lorenz (Berlin), Leonie Meyer/Elena Stoffers (Osnabrueck/Kiel) and the twins Jule and Lotta Goerge from Kiel are in the top ten at the big events again and again. "We are a fantastic training group with different strengths in all aspects. And all four crews are on a similar level", means Jule Goerge. The twins are hoping for a place on the podium in Kiel, good and fair races and a strong training effect at the Kieler Woche, before they will head on to Portugal for the Olympic qualifiers (three events) ten days later on 7. July. Then the harmonious training quartette might split up into tough competitors. "Our focus is on the Olympics in Rio. Everything else is taking a backseat. But if the Olympics 2024 are awarded to Hamburg/Kiel, we can think about competing again on our doorstep", says Lotta Goerge.

Hamburg's Senator Michael Neumann and Kiel's Lord Mayor Ulf Kaempfer explained in unison, that they would do everything to offer the talents from Kiel a chance for an Olympic appearance in their hometown.

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